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The first official Blue Ocean Strategy App is now available for the iPad

Download it now for free from the iTunes App Store.

Drag, drop, and instantly draw future strategies to break free of red ocean competition.

An easy, efficient, and highly effective creativity platform, the new Strategy Visualizer enables users to dynamically create and collaborate on strategy canvases and ERRC grids using intuitive touch controls and a clean interface.

Created by INSEAD, the Blue Ocean Strategy Visualizer App for iPad is available free from the iTunes App Store.

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‘Going Niche’ for ASEAN Economic Community

ASEAN countries have been sluggish to change domestic legislation to support integration efforts across the region. Governments are reluctant to abandon protectionist barriers for less competitive industries largely due to fear of alienating key constituents. The author suggests one way of helping less competitive industries is to encourage companies to take advantage of an emerging middle class. ASEAN countries can pursue either red ocean strategies and compete in the same markets, trying to beat competitors, or they can turn to blue ocean strategies, creating markets for themselves and making the competition irrelevant. The latter could bring more compatibility to ASEAN economies and strengthen integration.

Eurasia Review, May 13, 2013, Singapore. (In English)

How Panasonic’s Kazuhiro Tsuga is Taking a Sword to Every Unprofitable Business in Portfolio

Panasonic Corporation President, Kazuhiro Tsuga, intends for the company to move away from traditional in-house manufacturing and partner with industries that range from automobiles and aviation, to logistics, retail, housing, and healthcare. He comments on Panasonic’s future strategy: "Future growth will [be] in B2B. Our objective is now to provide a better life to consumers through their cars, their businesses, and their home construction. This is a classic blue ocean strategy, where the company moves out of hyper-competitive waters to uncontested markets."

The Economic Times, May 10, 2013, India. (In English)

Leaders from IU Health and U of I Hospital Define “Academic Medical Centers”

The panel of medical industry practitioners at the Becker’s Hospital Review Annual Meeting in Chicago on May 10th discussed the challenges and trends facing academic medical centers. Dr. Bryan Becker, CEO of the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago, discussed how the hospital redefined their strategy to focus on creating blue oceans and providing a unique offering to current and future patient base.

Becker’s Hospital Review, May 11, 2013, USA. (In English)

The DeanBeat: Why Nintendo Should Have Bought Ouya and Other Might-Have-Beens

Having once enjoyed a blue ocean of uncontested market space in the video game console industry, Nintendo is now facing increased competition from Ouya, an up-start company showing a lot of promise. To repeat the success of Nintendo Wii, the company will need to drastically change its strategy and offer something the market has not yet seen. Otherwise, Nintendo could fall from grace quickly.

VentureBeat, May 10, 2013, USA. (In English)

Dan Zarrella: Why All Marketers Should Embrace Data

How do you stand out online now that there are over 200 million blogs and a billion Facebook accounts? Dan Zarrella, social media scientist and marketer, does not put much stock into “early adoption” as a business tactic. It is possible to get some good play early on if marketers can identify which sites, platforms, or memes are going to catch on. However, in the long run, it is all about blue ocean strategy.

Forbes, May 8, 2013, USA. (In English)

Revamped Cargo 2000 Has New Program

“Most, if not all of us, will find ourselves in a red ocean industry. You can only win if someone else loses," says Majjits ten Brink, SVP sales for KLM-Air France-Martinair at Cargo 2000. Indicating that the air cargo industry suffers from low reliability for airlines and forwarders, low asset usage, and a lack of industry standards, he suggests that Cargo 2000 is planning to implement blue ocean strategy and become a catalyst for fundamental change in the industry.

Air Cargo World, May 7, 2013, UK. (In English)

涂料的“新蓝海”就在农村 (The New Blue Ocean for Paint Industry is Rural Market)

China’s economic growth rate is declining and strict national real estate policies are adding an additional burden for companies. This decline results in a stagnant market for paint manufacturers. The article suggests that the rural market is the next blue ocean for paint manufacturers and recommends that they carefully analyze how to take advantage of the endless opportunities the rural market presents.

Alibaba, April 25, 2013, China. (In Chinese)

Claves Para Dejar Atrás a Tu Competencia (Key Points to Outrun Your Competition)

The claim that competition is healthy for an industry, consumers, and competitors may be true to some extent, but not completely. The article discusses the difference between creating a new market and remaining within an existing one wrought with competition.

Alto Nivel, May 6, 2013, Mexico. (In Spanish)

Did Blackberry Miss Their Blue Ocean?

Is the latest Blackberry model an attempt to catch up with competition? Did Blackberry miss the opportunity to create a blue ocean for itself in Africa? By providing both internet access as well as normal mobile services, and at a better data rate than other phone companies in the region, Blackberry could have accessed a largely untapped market but it may have just missed that opportunity.

Not Everybody Likes Tea blog, May 5, 2013, South Africa. (In English)

Blue Ocean Strategy for European Operators: Creation is Critical

A continuation of the previous post on how to devise a strategy to successfully swim in the information and communications technology industry. Blue ocean strategy’s ERRC grid (Eliminate-Reduce-Raise-Create) is used to analyze a telecom operator’s strategy. This post focuses on what an operator should create to find blue ocean.

Ericsson The Networked Society Blog, May 7, 2013, Sweden. (In English)

Why Retail Businesses Fail Part 3: Organization This Mistake in Retail?

Failure or success in retail is the consequence of the strategic decisions every retailer adopts. The article suggests that in the era of increased internet ecommerce, blue ocean strategy is the “salvation” for physical book, DVD, music, and furniture retailers which are in danger of becoming obsolete. Blue ocean strategy helps firms maintain relevance by emphasizing the simultaneous pursuit of differentiation and low cost. Richer Sounds, a British home entertainment retailer, is presented as a case of a retailer that successfully adopted blue ocean strategy.

Zimbio, May 7, 2013, USA. (In English)

From Crisis to Sustenance: Blue Ocean Strategy – Where Rules of Game are Waiting to be Set

In praise of Blue Ocean Strategy, the author recommends, “If you ever hear your executives whine about the competition, you will want to read this book.” Read on to learn how to dive into untapped market space, challenge industry’s conventional wisdom, and reach out to noncustomers.

Daily Mirror, May 6, 2013, Sri Lanka. (In English)

Derfor Skal du IKKE Lytte til Dine Kunder (Therefore, Do NOT Listen to Your Customers)

Companies should listen to their customers. For decades this dictum has been taken as fact and the practice is now so cemented into strategic thinking that it is, perhaps, no longer a conscious decision by firms. Kim and Mauborgne's Blue Ocean Strategy as well as other recent work on innovation by Clayton Christensen and Roberto Verganti, challenge such misguided assumptions. Many companies have started wondering whether listening to customers may actually hurt the business, or if there are some cases in which it may be more profitable to ignore customer opinions altogether.

Kommunikations Forum, May 5, 2013, Denmark. (In Danish)

Boon for Hawkers Under 1Malaysia Initiatives

The 1Malaysia Hawkers Programme (PP1M), one of the initiatives under National Blue Ocean Strategy, was implemented by the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry. The program aims to improve the physical appearance, cleanliness, and hygiene standards among food vendors. In addition, hawkers can enrol in the ministry’s 1Malaysia Hawkers and Petty Traders National Insurance Plan (P1MPIN).

New Straits Times, May 3, 2013, Malaysia.

(In English)

How Your Own Expertise Is Holding You Back?

Have you ever wondered how some entrepreneurs are able to create new companies, or how certain investors are capable of bringing new products to market? This article argues these successes are possible when people can challenge existing assumptions, assess a situation with fresh perspectives, follow a blue ocean strategic approach of eliminating or reducing undesired features and raising or creating desirable ones, and finally practice a dose of humility. Examples of challenging conventional boundaries include the movie Gorillas in the Mist, Coca-Cola’s Freestyle touchscreen soda machine, and IKEA.

Fast Company, May 1, 2013, USA.(In English)

Apple Hizo de la Música un Negocio Rentable (Apple Made Music Profitable)

Apple observed the flood of illegal music file sharing that began in the late 1990s, enabled by file sharing programs such as Napster, Kazaa, and LimeWire. By 2003 the trend towards digital music was clear and the demand for MP3 music players was growing. Apple created its online music store, iTunes, unlocking a blue ocean in digital music, with the added advantage of increasing the attractiveness of its highly successful iPod player.

Ekos, May 2013, Ecuador. (In Spanish)

Blue Ocean Strategy for a European Operator: What Does It Take?

The Networked Society Blog provides an interesting analysis of the strategy that a telecom operator would have to pursue in order to create a blue ocean of uncontested market space. The author uses Eliminate-Reduce-Raise-Create framework to analyze specific actions a company could take. Companies in the information and communications technology industry may find this article insightful and inspiring as they attempt to embark on a new path to finding blue oceans.

Ericsson The Networked Society Blog, April 30, 2013, Sweden. (In English)

Blue Ocean for Your Innovation Commitment

The article showcases Spotify, Flavi, Netflix, and Valve as blue ocean examples of innovation. The companies exhibit distinctly different innovation characteristics based on their own specific situations, calling on readers to consider which model is better. The author suggests that blue ocean innovation involves developing distinctive innovation value propositions by focusing on context, following three main steps: creating, developing and engaging.

Innovation Excellence, April 29, 2013, USA. (In English)

Sailing a Blue Ocean: Creating Uncontested Market Spaces

Conventional knowledge suggests that to distance themselves from competition companies need to either reduce costs or increase value for customers. Blue ocean strategy offers an alternative where low cost and increased value can be achieved simultaneously. The article describes how Nintendo Wii has achieved these dual objectives to successfully sail a blue ocean.

Asian Correspondent, April 29, 2013, United Kingdom. (In English)

Marketing’s Next Frontier: Blue Ocean Strategy

In difficult economic times, companies are struggling to stay afloat. Creative application of blue ocean strategy may help your company to survive the turbulent times and emerge unscathed. Learn how to create a blue ocean to create a sustainable and uncontested market space.

Daily Mirror, April 29, 2013, Sri Lanka. (In English)

Strong Partnership Between PDRM, ATM Important for National Security – DPM

Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, expressed pride at the extraordinary cooperation among security forces to ensure peace and security in the country. He credited strong partnership between the Royal Malaysia Police and the Malaysian Armed Forces to blue ocean strategy.

Bernama, April 29, 2013, Malaysia. (In English)

Recommended Reading for New and Not-So-New Librarians

Bobbi Newman, member of the American Library Association, argues that even though Blue Ocean Strategy was written with business people in mind, its applicability to libraries makes it equally valuable to librarians.

Librarian by Day, April 28, 2013, USA. (In English)

iTunes, Dieci Anni Che Hanno Rivoluzionato la Musica (iTunes, Ten Years That Have Revolutionized the Music)

On April 28th, Apple’s iTunes celebrated its 10 year anniversary. iTunes Music Store has revolutionized the music industry, opening up unexplored blue oceans free from competition. Since 2003, Apple has reconstructed many industry boundaries, achieving a number of significant milestones.

Il Sole 24 Ore, April 25, 2013, Italy. (In Italian)

Curves Resideñó el Concepto de Deporte (Curves Redesigned the Concept of Sport)

Though it was seen as an oversaturated market, in 1995 Curves exploded the demand in the U.S. fitness industry, unlocking a huge untapped market, a veritable blue ocean of women struggling and failing to keep in shape through sound fitness. Curves built on the decisive advantages of two strategic groups in the U.S. fitness industry – traditional health clubs and home exercise programs – and eliminated or reduced everything else. Curves is not competing directly with other health and exercise concepts; it has created a new blue ocean of demand.

Ekos, April 2013, Ecuador. (In Spanish)

Report Cites Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Houma-Thibodaux Economic Links

A recent report by the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center is in-line with the state’s blue ocean strategy for economic development. The blue ocean strategy for the state of Louisiana stakes out economic development opportunities that have not been exploited by other states. For example, the state focuses on rebuilding coastal marshes, leveraging regional expertise in both heavy construction and engineering.

The Advocate, April 23, 2013, USA. (In English)

Kenya’s CIC Insurance Ready to Expand in Region

Less than two years since it gained its independence, South Sudan is attracting the attention of insurance companies in East Africa. CIC Insurance Group of Kenya is planning to expand its operations in South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and Malawi. South Sudan is considered “a blue ocean with a lot of potential” for CIC Insurance as it doesn’t have mature insurance structures and micro-insurance is thought to play a significant role.

Financial Times, April 22, 2013, United Kingdom. (In English)

1Malaysia Support for Housewives Programme Will Benefit Housewives, Single Mothers, Disabled – Subramanian

The 1Malaysia Support for Housewives programme, introduced under the National Blue Ocean Strategy, is expected to benefit housewives, single mothers and the disabled. The initiative assists the target group to earn a supplementary income through awareness programmes, trainings and entrepreneurship.

Bernama, April 25, 2013, Malaysia. (In English)

From Crisis to Sustenance: Blue Oceans are Possible in the Era of Rapid Transformation

Have you ever wondered whether blue ocean strategy is a quick fix to your problems? Have you asked yourself questions if you can pursue blue ocean strategy on your own and using current understanding of your customers’ behavior? Read about common misconceptions of blue ocean strategy and how AirAsia was able to successfully create a blue ocean for itself.

Daily Mirror, April 22, 2013, Sri Lanka. (In English)

Bank Sohar Honours Clients at Annual Corporate Dinner

CEO of Bank Sohar, Dr Mohamed Abdulaziz Kalmoor, commented on his bank’s strategy: “We ascribe to the Blue Ocean Strategy, whereby we try not to rely too much on the spaces occupied by the other competitive players. We strive to create our own space and operate in it. No business today that seeks to outperform the market can do so by simply following the others”. Bank Sohar is one of the leading banks in Oman.

Muscat Daily, April 22, 2013, Oman. (In English)

Vinasoy Và Chiến Lược Đại Dương Xanh (Vinasoy and Blue Ocean Strategy)

Vinasoy, a company specialized in manufacturing and supplying of soymilk in Vietnam, has achieved a tremendous success and reached seventy five percent of the market share in only three years. The success is attributed to application of blue ocean strategy as the company’s activities seem to be focused on answering one question: “How to create a new market space and distance itself from competition?” Vinasoy strategy has focus, divergence and a compelling tagline, the three characteristics that embody a good strategy and guide companies in carrying out the process of reconstruction to arrive at a breakthrough in value both for buyers and for themselves.

Dien Dan Doanh Nghiep, April 21, 2013, Vietnam. (In Vietnamese)

Navegar por Aguas Tranquilas (Smooth Sailing)

Economic crisis has hit the strongest economies on the planet and in many countries small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were hit the hardest. Colombia is one such example, where a large part of the economy is generated by SMEs and companies find it extremely challenging to remain profitable. Only change of strategy can save companies from falling, yet the challenging times depleted already scarce resources needed for transformation. Blue ocean strategy offers tools that can help reduce costs and differentiate companies in the eyes of customers, and promote sustainable growth.

EL ESPECTADOR, April 19, 2013, Colombia. (In Spanish)

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10 Books That Are Sure to Inspire the Creation of the Business

Rb.ru has selected Blue Ocean Strategy as one of the 10 most inspiring books to start your own business. “Blue Ocean Strategy is more than an ordinary book of business. It is a philosophy, a lifestyle, it is a special way – and the story of how to go that way”.

Rb.ru, April 19, 2013, Russia. (In Russian)

Gramble World Launches Mobile Social Game Network for Good

Inspired by Blue Ocean Strategy, Adam Palmer decided to found Gramble World, a mobile social gaming company. The idea was to create a socially conscious place in mobile games. Gramble integrates charitable donations directly into competitive mobile games with a high degree of social interaction. Players can purchase various in-game items and a percentage of the proceeds is dedicated to the charities of the player’s choice.

VentureBeat, April 17, 2013, USA. (In English)

6 Paths for Leading Your Education Business to Blue Ocean, Part III

Part III of series of blog posts on blue ocean strategy introduces the 6 Paths Framework and applies it in the context of publishing industry. Path 3 – Looking Across the Chain of Buyers is discussed in depth.

Tagoras, April 15, 2013, USA. (In English)

The Juice-Bar Brawl

With the emergence of health conscious customers, the cold pressed juices have become an industry in itself. And with that inadvertently comes competition which crowded the marketplace and resulted in nothing short of juice wars. Mr. Mayer of Creative Juices, who developed flavorful juice offerings that are not only healthy but also tasty, credits his success to blue ocean strategy. He explains that in a red ocean scenario, a trend takes hold and companies that want to capitalize on it start chewing one another up, he explains. “Blue ocean thinking says, ‘I don’t have to be part of that scrum.’ I can swim in fresh water”, he adds.

The New York Times, April 17th, 2013, USA. (In English)

Ten Business Trends from the Trenches

Blue Ocean Strategy, according to the article, is one of the top 10 business trends for 2013. Insights from CEOs of mid-market companies reveal that not only are more and more companies using blue ocean strategy, but that these strategies are really working. Companies are increasingly employing blue ocean strategies to discover unmet customer needs in the rapidly evolving global marketplace and evidence can be found in industries as diverse as hydration system manufacturing, financial services, and construction.

Forbes, February 11, 2013, USA. (In English)

First Designer Innerwear Brand for Men – Zoiro Launched in City

Zoiro, a first designer innerwear brand for men, is following blue ocean strategy to revolutionize the innerwear market in India. To break away from competition, the brand decided to innovate its product offering by introducing a team of Italian designers to produce new cuts that are comfortable and stylish.

MENSXP, April 12, 2013, India. (In English)

Uma Nova Curva de Valor Para a Sua Empresa: a Estratégia do Oceano Azul (A New Value Curve for Your Company: Blue Ocean Strategy)

Do you know how to put blue ocean strategy into practice? Have you ever wondered whether this is the right strategy for you and your business? This article addresses some of the common challenges people face before they embark on finding their own blue oceans.

Administradores, April 12, 2013, Brazil. (In Portuguese)

Do You Have a Job … or a Business?

President of W.A. Smith Financial Group in Ohio, William A. Smith, talks about importance of creating the right business model. He decided to use blue ocean strategy at his financial advisory company. “Rather than trying to sell prospects a product or investment, I decided it was time that I sell them a solution.” Once he focused on this approach, people’s attitude towards him, as an advisor, changed and business thrived ever since.

LifeHealthPRO, April 12, 2013, USA. (In English)

15 More Must-Read Business Books That Could Change Your Life

Houston Chronicle selects Blue Ocean Strategy as one of the 15 business books that have helped change readers lives. “Have you ever heard the business advice, “squash your competition?” … If you own a business, this book may provide a refreshing model for building a company that truly does stand out from the crowd”.

Chron, April 9, 2013, USA. (In English)

La Estrategia del Océano Azul (Blue Ocean Strategy)

Cirque du Soleil has created a blue ocean for itself by reconstructing market boundaries, differentiation, and reducing costs by eliminating traditional factors present in the circus industry while adding innovative features that attracted new customers. Read on to learn how the same methodology can be applied to political culture in Colombia.

Soy Periodista, April 8, 2013, Colombia. (In Spanish)

Galaxy Note II Và Chiến Lược ‘Đại Dương Xanh’ (Galaxy Note II and Blue Ocean Strategy)

Are you interested in knowing how Samsung Galaxy has created a blue ocean for itself? Read on to learn how Samsung solves two customer demands for a smartphone that is great for work and high-quality entertainment.

DoanhNhan Saigon Online, April 8, 2013, Vietnam. (In Vietnamese)

Blue Ocean Strategy: Long-term Solutions for Business Trends

In this instalment of series of blog posts, author discusses how to reconstruct market boundaries using 6 Paths Framework and how to focus people on the big picture using Strategy Canvas. Practical application of the concepts is shown through Nintendo Wii.

Daily Mirror, April 8, 2013, Sri Lanka. (In English)

Het Succes van Almere: de Blauwe Oceaan! (The Success of Almere: the Blue Ocean!)

Almere, a thriving city near Amsterdam, is an example of blue ocean strategy in action.

Dichtbij, April 4, 2013, the Netherlands. (In Dutch)

The Glory of Growing: How Innovation Spurs Sustained Profits

Chris Berna, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Vapor Apparel, argues for a systematic approach to adapt to a changing environment. He agrees with blue ocean strategy that tomorrow’s leading companies will succeed not by competing, but by creating uncontested market space and recommends for companies to find their own blue oceans.

SignIndustry.com, April 1, 2013, USA. (In English)

State of the Remanufacturing Industry

Gary Willert, President and CEO of LMI Solutions, talks about the greatest threats to the remanufacturing industry and what strategies to employ to counteract them. He believes that one of the main threats is internal competition and blue ocean strategy, which LMI applies, is the right strategy to counter it.

EnxMagazine, April 1, 2013, USA. (In English)

Do You Have a ‘Blue Ocean Strategy’?

Dental practices have long competed head on to try and gain a competitive advantage. The author stresses that in order to survive in this environment, one must be innovative in their approach and reach beyond conventional wisdom to create a blue ocean in which their competition rapidly becomes irrelevant.

Oral Health Journal, April 1, 2013, Canada. (In English)

From Crisis to Sustenance: Blue Ocean Strategy – In Pursuit of Differentiation

In the third instalment of series of articles on blue ocean strategy, the author describes in depth two concepts: Tipping Point Leadership and Four Hurdles to Execution.

Daily Mirror, April 1, 2013, Sri Lanka. (In English)

Blue Ocean Contracting

In this report on strategic thinking, Ted Garrison discusses the need of improvement of performance and profitability in the construction industry. As this industry’s highly competitive low-bid process is a red ocean, he explains how to turn it into a blue one.

The Garrison Report, March 2013, USA. (In English)

Inside Sales Jobs and Career Demand Up 54%: But Most Leverage Comes with Dialer Software and Lead Research

The article reports on the latest research in metrics and compensation for B2B technology companies. The author describes his company, InsideSales.com, as belonging to the “blue ocean” category, where there are no competitors.

Forbes, March 29, 2013, USA. (In English)

Getting Crazy Ideas Off the Ground

Samsung Electronics’ Value Innovation Program (VIP) Center and P&G’s Corporate Innovation Fund (CIF) are presented as programs central to developement and nourishment of innovative ideas that are outside of the scope of traditional departments within big organizations. The VIP Center was inspired by blue ocean strategy and has been credited with generating successful products such as Samsung’s Bordeaux TV, which has been instrumental in making Samsung a category leader in the TV business.

HBR Blog Network, March 25, 2013, USA. (In English)

Wealth Manager Mansmith Mentors: Learn then Compete and Grow

A multinational vegetable seed company had difficulty growing because of their market dominance. After applying blue ocean strategy they were able to discover new market space and add another dimension to their existing business-to-business operation. The company focused on a business-to-customer campaign which approached school children and taught them practical skills of planting vegetables in schools. The areas where the program was implemented experienced high double-digit percentage increases in sales.

Mansmith, March 25, 2013, Philippines. (In English)

Roger Duarte, Miami’s King Crab

The article presents the story of Roger Duarte, founder and president of George Stone Crab, and his journey to grow a very profitable stone crab business in Miami. Duarte read Blue Ocean Strategy which inspired him to embark on this venture.

Bloomberg Businessweek, March 21, 2013, USA. (In English)

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Introducing the INSEAD Blue Ocean Strategy program for executives

Acquire an inside perspective of the increasingly influential Blue Ocean approach to strategy formulation and execution in a program for executives with the next sessions scheduled in June 2013 and October 2013 in Fontainebleau and February 2014 in Abu Dhabi.
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