The Failing of Competition

The failing of monopolies, whether state imposed or gained in domination of a free market, is that they tend to stagnate. Without competition there is little motivation to do well. Why seek out better ideas when no one will cut into your market by thinking of them first? Why treat your customers well if there is no one else to turn to? Competition drives businesses to look out for their customers, because if they don't, someone else will.

But there is a major failing to competition. The drive to win over customers often requires that they be won over first. When decisions to purchase a commodity are difficult to turn back on it means the spoils go to the quick. But to be the first with a new and attractive service often means compromise.

When pushing to be first, many things may be put aside. Planning, testing, thinking. Steps essentially to ensuring quality are lost sight of or begrudgingly laid aside as pressure comes down to meet deadlines too tight to do well, but that gain an edge over the competition. This pressure can lead businesses to do what individuals otherwise would not do.

If something is foolish or considered wrong, and individual would not do this for themselves. Why would they do something that clearly would cause problems later on? Why would they do something that is a compromise of character, vices and addictions aside?

But what about when it is your employer asking for the foolish act? Defenses may already be down as the worker is concerned about their job security. But added to that, though they may acknowledge the act as foolish, it is still what the boss wants. The boss can see the compromise as well as them, and the compromise is what they want. So workers are led to compromise because the compromise is not their own. In some cases it may seem small, only resulting in minor headaches for customers and the company down the road. In others it can lead to reprehensible actions.

On the flip side, though monopolies are seen as the breeding ground of stagnation and neglect this is not always the case. There have been monopolies that for the pride of their work have innovated against the trend. They have not succumb to what is easy.

The point then, is that it is not necessarily the circumstance that must guide business. Whether it is a monopoly or a competition there are decisions to be made. The decisions may be to go with what seems the natural route. To dismiss the customers needs as they have no other options. Or to scramble to out pace the competition, regardless of the long term cost. But what is needful is men who will make decisions to do what is right. Who will do what is good in the long run, both for customers and for the business, whatever the prevailing pressures may be.