Different input begets different attributes, and different attributes enact different applications.

Input matters.

It sets the cap.

Whatever values firms create, they cannot go beyond what they start with – the input they use.

This might not be obvious for digital products but is evident for physical products.

What kinds of materials a company uses for their product determine what kinds of attributes this product will exhibit. And these attributes will determine what kinds of applications this product will be used for.

Take paper for instance.

Traditional tree paper is made of wood, and thus inherits wood attributes. The wood fibers determine that tree paper cannot be waterproof, tearproof, and fireproof, but can last for a long time under normal circumstances.

Karst, in contrast, introduces a different type of paper – stone paper. Stone paper is made from recycled waste marble and limestone. Its key component is Calcium Carbonate. Calcium-carbonate-based paper is waterproof, tear-resistant, grease-resistant, and dirt-resistant. But, it is not fireproof and lightproof. That means stone paper can last for only about 6 to 18 months under natural conditions before it decomposes.

Clearly, stone paper is not here to replace tree paper, because it’s no better than tree paper and vice versa. They complement each other. For things tree paper cannot do, stone paper covers them; and for things stone paper cannot do, tree paper covers them.

Different input begets different attributes, and different attributes enact different applications.

If there is one thing we can learn from this reflection, it is the realization that no input can be treated as everything for everyone. They all have their inherent pros and cons.

That means, no input can entirely replace the other. The introduction of new input might bring in correction but rarely disruption. Disruption is to replace one application with the other, and correction is to refine boundary conditions for each application. One is to uproot an application and the other one is to sharpen it.  

Thence, think twice before you jump ship. No input can cancel out the other. Any introduction of new input is only to diversify the applications to the next level. Nothing more nothing less.

The key takeaway?

Just sharpen your applications and trust that the world is indeed big enough to embrace diversities.