Frequently overlooked-neglected ingredients to successful launches by entrepreneurs are protecting their knowledge (intellectual capital) on which the idea-innovation originated and taking affirmative steps to literally preserve the value of that know how and any subsequent (proprietary) competitive advantages which have a bearing on the launch and/or execution of the business plan.
The ‘bottom line’ is however, in steadily rising percentages of business transactions those assets are literally integral to the deal and require a degree of specialization, well beyond the conventional, to literally engage those assets in a comprehensive due diligence process.
A (franchise) brand integrity – reputation management program is comprised of those processes, features, designs, and business practices that collectively ensure the on-going integrity, safety, and authenticity (consumer confidence) of its products, intellectual property, competitive advantages, reputation, image, and shareholder value.
Protecting a company’s reputation is, with few exceptions, one of the more challenging responsibilities in company stewardship, oversight, and management.
Given the current context of globalization, allegiance is increasingly difficult to assess and since 1990, more countries are offering dual citizenship to those who immigrate and naturalize elsewhere, trying to bind their citizens to the countries of origin. Such practices allow people to collect dual or multiple citizenships which serve to dilute the meaning of citizenship and allegiance.
‘If an enterprise can appropriate R&D at minimal cost compared to its competitor and the company can still produce a comparable product at a far lower cost, basic economics dictates that the firm will win in the marketplace’. (Unsecured Economies: Protecting Vital Information)