Is small the new big?

I recently got a chance to read an article by Glenn Reynolds about the emerging power of small companies.Quite well written and true in today's context.

It has just reiterated my belief about the following things..

1.Death of intermediaries

Be it publishing industry,music -we all know the entire value chain is being resurrected by giving a blow to the existed intermediaries.

Dell did it by directly connecting to customer.
Amazon,E Bay all followed.


2.Reinvention of intermediaries

The new entrants to the market like Dell,Amazon et al had reinvented their role and became the new intermediary.

What Barnes & Nobles could achieve in a brick and mortar was achieved by cutting the intermediaries by Amazon.

What Indian Airlines cannot do..Deccan did ..others followed by eticketing..

Passing the benefit to the customer..

3.Empowerment of small companies

It is in the own interests of the big,they need to nurture small..

Be it companies or nations..the rule applies..

It is in the own self interest of the Western world,they are atleast saying they are saving Africa from hunger,poverty..

Make Poverty History Campaign just reflected that idea.

4.Co-existence in a ecosystem

We need to have both small and big they are here to stay...only it brings efficiencies in the system by coexisting,collaborating in a eco system.

IBM recently announced that it is giving free access to many (100 or so) of its patented innovations for collaborative use to counter threats from competition(Read Microsoft) for use of engineers across the world for open source development..