For most firms, the available stock of knowledge, skills, and abilities constitutes the firm’s most valuable asset. Firms that are able to flexibly retool and adapt to industry trends will find it easier to compete and firms that can anticipate their needs for knowledge, skills, and abilities will find themselves in a position to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. 

Your thought leadership assignment is to identify four or five areas where you believe further attention is required, specifically in terms of creating knowledge of markets, environments, and customers.