Written in an interesting, highly accessible style, this book identifies and analyzes in depth the six key sources of competitive advantage— from research and production automation to market understanding and effective people— which will determine whether a company will survive in the short-term and whether it will thrive in the long-term. Departing significantly from the dry, academic tone which has typified previous books on this subject, the author employs a guiding metaphor of the company as a high performance six-cylinder engine, wherein each cylinder works together toward sustainable advantage.