ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors describe three dimensions – power, time and fit –. They first, because the existing fit will dictate the default direction of the organisation unless, act to change that and secondly because they can see the other two dimensions, power and time, as means to achieve fit. Fit is in some ways the most elusive of the three dimensions. The concept of fit is intuitively easy but less familiar. In Patterns of Strategy, there are three elements to fit: differentiation, drive and stretch. Differentiation is much talked about in conventional strategy, but the reality is often highly misleading. The authors distinguish three positions of differentiation: herd, edge and individual. Herds are fundamentally collaborative. A major part of the benefit is the recognisability for members of the herd, and this affects both customers and potential partners and suppliers.
