The Spider’s Web Concept of Business Intelligence

Spider weaving a web on a branch 

The “Spider’s Web Doctrine” is a business strategy inspired by the way spiders weave their webs. It emphasizes building networks of relationships and connections within an industry, while remaining adaptable to change and opportunity. Just as a spider adjusts its web to capture prey, businesses can strategically position themselves at the center of their networks to seize opportunities and respond to threats from a vantage point.

Lessons from the Spider’s Web

The spider’s web concept teaches contemporary entrepreneurs several fundamental lessons:

• Value Relationships: Foster strong connections with customers, suppliers, and partners, your web becomes a hunting ground to trap opportunities.

• Deploy Flexibility: Be prepared to pivot and adjust to changing circumstances.

• Embrace Strategic Alliances: Collaborate with others to achieve mutual benefits. Business life is not only about competition; embrace “co‑opetition,” which means forming alliances to co‑create and share value.

This approach highlights the importance of building strong networks and being adaptable in a rapidly changing business environment.

Global Examples of the Spider’s Web Doctrine

• The Amazon Network: Amazon's vast network of sellers, buyers, and partners creates a web of interconnected relationships, making it a dominant global e-commerce platform.

• The Alibaba Ecosystem: Alibaba's online marketplaces, payment systems, and logistics networks create a complex web of relationships, driving business growth and expansion.

• Google's Search Network: Google's search engine and advertising platform weave a web of connections between users, advertisers, and content creators, generating revenue and insights.

• Facebook's Social Network: Facebook's social media platform creates a web of relationships between users, driving engagement, data collection, and targeted advertising.

• Ecosperity's Partnerships: Ecosperity, a Singapore-based company, partners with various businesses to create a web of relationships, driving growth and innovation in the fintech sector.

Can you identify a spider’s web network within Zimbabwe’s business landscape?

Wealth Circulation and Community Strategy

Jews, Indians, and the Chinese have used this concept with greater success. Wealth circulates within their communities and is trapped within. Indian people go to Indian doctors, take their children to Indian schools, engage Indian plumbers, Indian lawyers, and they patronize Indian shops with a great sense of patriotism to their race! The spider’s web is a hunting ground that traps wealth and plugs all possible unnecessary leakages within their communities.

On the other hand, blacks think it is a huge achievement if they take their kids to Indian schools, if they buy items at Indian shopping centers, or if they patronize Indian sports clubs! Wealth doesn’t last in the black communities. It hemorrhages to other races all the time. The black race is the only race that consumes what other races have produced. Have you ever wondered why Africa-China summits are always held in Beijing and not in Africa? Why are Africa–Russia Summits always held in Sochi or St Petersburg and not in Africa?

Thought Leadership

Professor Mufaro Gunduza, a coach and mentor in Business Intelligence at Mount Carmel Institute (Harare), Indian School of Management (New Mumbai), and UNISA, among others, emphasizes this doctrine. He serves as SADC Investments Advisor for the Future Trends Group and is President of the Southern African Chamber of Commerce. His books include Unleashing Blue Sky Thinking, Spotting Business Opportunities, and Big Picture Thinking (Bookboon Publishers, London & Denmark).

Spider’s Web Business Intelligence