The Vendor Relationship Management (VRM) community could bring another shift as start-ups begin invading this space, switching the emphasis to managing personal data assets on behalf of users.

FORBES: Why Competing Is Getting Harder (And What to do About It)

As dunes build up absent a storm to knock them down they shift closer to the high-tide line, and nesting space shrinks.

WSJ: Wrecked Beaches Could Aid Plovers

But now, right-handed hitters like Alex Rodriguez are forced to deal with the shift, seeing a mass of infielders in the left-field space where he used to deposit soft line drives for hits.

WSJ: The Yankees Battle a Shifting Tide

If it is unable to either shift from the big-box retail format to smaller stores, or optimize store space by sub-leasing to other businesses, operating costs will not come down.

FORBES: Why Best Buy Is Still Worth $25

The paradigm shift, which began with SpaceShipOne's first flight into space in June, is away from government-funded space programmes to a dynamic bevy of private efforts.

ECONOMIST: The X Prize is claimed, and a new era begins