January 10, 2025 - Email: Competitor's Innovation

RE: Competitor's Innovation

From: Research Associate

Subject: Competitor's Innovation

Date: January 10, 2025 8:00AM CDT

To: Chief Engineer

Chief Engineer,

I've caught wind of a major technical innovation from one of biggest rivals. I cannot tell you more at this time, but I will copy everyone on any information I can share as I receive it.

Research Associate

January 11, 2025 - Email: Competitor's Innovation

RE: Competitor's Innovation

From: Chief Engineer

Subject: Competitor's Innovation

Date: January 11, 2025 8:00AM CDT

To: Research Associate

Research Associate,

I'm pretty skeptical. What is this about? Where are you getting your information?

Chief Engineer

January 12, 2025 - Email: Re: Competitor's Innovation

RE: Re: Competitor's Innovation

From: Research Associate

Subject: Re: Competitor's Innovation

Date: January 12, 2025 8:00AM CDT

To: Chief Engineer

Chief Engineer,

Turns out that this is much worse than I thought. If our competitor succeeds, they may be able to improve the performance of their sensors by 20 percent, reduce size by 15 percent and reduce material cost by 10 percent. This could put us out of business!

Research Associate

January 18, 2025 - Email: Re: Competitor's Innovation

RE: Re: Competitor's Innovation

From: Chief Engineer

Subject: Re: Competitor's Innovation

Date: January 18, 2025 8:00AM CDT

To: Research Associate

Research Associate,

I haven't heard from you in a week. You are not in trouble, but I need more information. Where did you learn of this impending innovation?

Chief Engineer

January 22, 2025 - Email: Re: Competitor's Innovation

RE: Re: Competitor's Innovation

From: Research Associate

Subject: Re: Competitor's Innovation

Date: January 22, 2025 8:00AM CDT

To: Chief Engineer

Chief Engineer,

The danger's passed, they've given up the project. You have no idea how close they came. I learned about this because one of their engineers is part of my LinkedIn circle.

Research Associate

January 22, 2025 - Email: Re: Competitor's Innovation

RE: Re: Competitor's Innovation

From: Chief Engineer

Subject: Re: Competitor's Innovation

Date: January 22, 2025 8:00AM CDT

To: Research Associate

Research Associate,

Why would he tell you as much as he did, knowing that you work for a competitor?

Chief Engineer

January 22, 2025 - Email: Re: Competitor's Innovation

RE: Re: Competitor's Innovation

From: Research Associate

Subject: Re: Competitor's Innovation

Date: January 22, 2025 8:00AM CDT

To: Chief Engineer

Chief Engineer,

He never asked. You know, I just started working for the company so I haven't gotten around yet to updating my credentials on LinkedIn.

Research Associate

January 22, 2025 - Email: Re: Competitor's Innovation

RE: Re: Competitor's Innovation

From: Chief Engineer

Subject: Re: Competitor's Innovation

Date: January 22, 2025 8:00AM CDT

To: Research Associate

Research Associate,

I do not use LinkedIn much, however, I do know that their terms of use prohibit misrepresentation or using an unfounded alter ego.

I guess what I'm curious about isn't so much the fact that your profile may not be up-to-date. Rather, why is our competitor's innovation dead in the water?

Chief Engineer

January 22, 2025 - Email: Re: Competitor's Innovation

RE: Re: Competitor's Innovation

From: Research Associate

Subject: Re: Competitor's Innovation

Date: January 22, 2025 8:00AM CDT

To: Chief Engineer

Chief Engineer,

The engineer thought I was still in my research position at the university. He contacted me and asked me for advice. I gave him one of our material analyses, but I changed a few numbers. He bought it hook, line and sinker!

Research Associate

You are the chief engineer. Two months ago, one of your new research associates announced to his R&D group that he had discovered a crucial piece of competitive information.

Your Selection

Decision Vote Tally Consensus

A Do nothing.

B Inform the competitor immediately that wrong numbers were used without the company's knowledge and then give them the correct numbers.

C Ask the research associate to outline the competitor's innovation so you can use the design for your production.

D Have the research associate change his LinkedIn profile immediately because he is misrepresenting himself. Still consider using the innovation.