Art Quote by James Surowiecki
“Standards wars involve lots of variables, and understanding them often seems more an art than a science. They generally involve just two big players, and end in a winner-take-all situation.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Wisdom of Crowds, 2004
Standard battles are complex, often driven by strategic moves of two dominant firms, resembling a competitive art rather than pure science.
In simple terms: Standard battles are complex, strategic moves two firms
Recognize strategic dynamics in industry standards.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- technology adoption
- business negotiations
- product development
- regulatory planning
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do smaller firms influence standards?
- What role do regulators play?
Assumes only two players, ignoring multi‑party ecosystems.