Comments on: Startup Engineers: Learning the Core http://www.kleinsch.com/2010/01/03/startup-engineers-learning-the-core/ Nick Kleinschmidt's Blog Wed, 07 Sep 2011 08:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Sam Aparicio http://www.kleinsch.com/2010/01/03/startup-engineers-learning-the-core/comment-page-1/#comment-59 Sam Aparicio Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:58:31 +0000 http://kleinsch.com/?p=210#comment-59 Great post! In product management we talk about "distinctive competence" more than core competence, to emphasize the fact that a core competence is only good if it is distinct from that of one's competitors. Generally, distinctive competence centers around one of a few themes: product leadership (Apple), customer intimacy (IBM), operational excellence (Dell), service (Nordstrom's), distribution (Intuit), sales (Oracle)... For a developer, this may mean learning how to treat a customer well, how to help a sales person close a deal, how to help start a new line of business or how to recruit. Great post! In product management we talk about “distinctive competence” more than core competence, to emphasize the fact that a core competence is only good if it is distinct from that of one’s competitors.

Generally, distinctive competence centers around one of a few themes: product leadership (Apple), customer intimacy (IBM), operational excellence (Dell), service (Nordstrom’s), distribution (Intuit), sales (Oracle)…

For a developer, this may mean learning how to treat a customer well, how to help a sales person close a deal, how to help start a new line of business or how to recruit.

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