A good article, but not a new theory.

Two schools of thought regarding optimal competitive strategy:

(1) "Traditional" economic input/output model: first-mover is a definite advantage, especially if being "first to market" allows a company to put up barriers to entry (or to influence any of the other "five forces") in the traditional economic model. Example would be patenting new technology.

(2) "Hypercompetitive" model: becoming more apparent in the digital age, and especially pertainent to web-only companies. Rather than "reacting" to moves of competitors, firms in a hypercompetitive market must predict and prepare for competitive moves from their rivals.