Competition ?

[jean]

In what way should or could it be made less obvious, jean?

I'm afraid I don't understand the question.

If what someone is trying to explain to me is already obvious to me before they even start, their explanation won't 'effect' any change in my understanding.

That's all I mean.

[jean]

...It seems to me...that competition is always shown as the mechanism to achieve success, whereas in fact internal collaborative effort is at least as important.

See the HS2 thread!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Competition is sometimes a myth. Take the example of Boots.

When a large supermarket takes over another one, it can result in two large stores in close proximity, meaning that one has to be sold. For example, when Morrison's took over Safeway, the latter might have been sold to Sainsbury's.

But when Boots the Chemist buys up every little pharmacy in a small town (or even a large one) they become totally dominant, yet no-one raise a finger to challenge the monopoly created.
Except for your EA, of course, who, on being asked whether or not he has a Boots Card, replies in the negative and explains why not, and does the same when asked to fill in an online questionnaire. But one EA can make little difference.