MGMT 640 FINAL EXAM PART 2 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ 3 "Lessons" from S-Curve Concept. Answer: ① Technology
improves slowly at first because it is poorly understood
② Then accelerates as understanding increases
③ Then tapers off as approaches limits
① Defenders face difficult choices
ⓐ Abandon the business the already own, with all its cash flow and
certainty, in favor of the rival technology
ⓑ Hold onto what they have and work hard to make it better or
useful to more customers
ⓒ Hold onto the existing business and begin investing in the new
technology as a hedge against the future; Seems logical, but has
problems:
- company may not have the competencies to develop new
technology (film vs. digital photography)
- culture of the organization may not welcome the new technology
(IBM mainframe computing vs. desktop computing)
- existing customers may pressure the company to stay in the old
business (tyranny of served markets)
,② Leaders in one generation of technology are seldom leaders in
the next
ⓐ Defenders can enlist various strategies to defeat upstart technical
challenges:
Leapfrog the attacker's technology
Acquire the attacker
ⓑ Examples:
- when mini-computers cam along, upstart Digital Equipment
became the leader, not IBM, the then dominant computer company
- GM and Ford dominated US market until small, efficient vehicles
became popular and foreign competition took leadership
③ Attackers enjoy certain advantages
ⓐ An undivided focus:
Managers of upstart companies spend little time on internal
operations and people issues
They devote most of their attention to development of the new
technology or business model
ⓑ An ability to attract talent:
Capable technical and managerial talent are often attracted to new
ideas with promising futures, especially when stock options are
significant portions of compensation
ⓒ The are not captives of powerful customers
,Powerful customers persuade established companies to con
◉ (Look of the) Rate of a technology's improvement (and its rate of
market diffusion). Answer: Typically follow S-Shape Curve
◉ 3 Types of Technological Change. Answer: ① Platform Innovation
② Component Innovation
③ Design Innovation
◉ Platform Innovation. Answer: (3 Types of Technological Change)
- the emergence of a new technology based on scientific principles
that are distinctly different from those of existing ones (Ex: CD)
◉ Component Innovation. Answer: (3 Types of Technological
Change)
- one that uses new parts or materials within the same technological
platform (Ex: magnetic tape, floppy disk, and zip disk)
◉ Design Innovation. Answer: (3 Types of Technological Change)
- a reconfiguration of the linkages and layout of components within
the same technological platform (Ex: the decrease in size of floppy
disks)
, ◉ Stages of a Technology's Life Cycle. Answer: ① Introduction Stage
② Growth Stage
③ Maturity Stage
④ Decline Stage
◉ "Jumping the S-Curve". Answer: ① How to beat the growth cycle,
get on top and stay there
② High performers that are able to get to top of one S curve and
then make the jump/leap to transition to another successful
business (important for a sustained pattern of leaps and jumps)
ⓐ Create edge centered strategy (supplement original strategy)
ⓑ Shake up top management when business is still doing really well
ⓒ Create surplus talent (provides flexibility)
◉ Idea/Innovation funnels. Answer: - a conceptual framework with
a formal series of identifiable inputs, actions, and outputs that are
used to understand the relevance, risks, and value of an idea as it
progresses to maturity.
- Pipeline process should be flexible and scalable to enable rapid
evaluation, and include appropriate stakeholders for stage gate
approvals; the goal is not only to identify new innovative
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ 3 "Lessons" from S-Curve Concept. Answer: ① Technology
improves slowly at first because it is poorly understood
② Then accelerates as understanding increases
③ Then tapers off as approaches limits
① Defenders face difficult choices
ⓐ Abandon the business the already own, with all its cash flow and
certainty, in favor of the rival technology
ⓑ Hold onto what they have and work hard to make it better or
useful to more customers
ⓒ Hold onto the existing business and begin investing in the new
technology as a hedge against the future; Seems logical, but has
problems:
- company may not have the competencies to develop new
technology (film vs. digital photography)
- culture of the organization may not welcome the new technology
(IBM mainframe computing vs. desktop computing)
- existing customers may pressure the company to stay in the old
business (tyranny of served markets)
,② Leaders in one generation of technology are seldom leaders in
the next
ⓐ Defenders can enlist various strategies to defeat upstart technical
challenges:
Leapfrog the attacker's technology
Acquire the attacker
ⓑ Examples:
- when mini-computers cam along, upstart Digital Equipment
became the leader, not IBM, the then dominant computer company
- GM and Ford dominated US market until small, efficient vehicles
became popular and foreign competition took leadership
③ Attackers enjoy certain advantages
ⓐ An undivided focus:
Managers of upstart companies spend little time on internal
operations and people issues
They devote most of their attention to development of the new
technology or business model
ⓑ An ability to attract talent:
Capable technical and managerial talent are often attracted to new
ideas with promising futures, especially when stock options are
significant portions of compensation
ⓒ The are not captives of powerful customers
,Powerful customers persuade established companies to con
◉ (Look of the) Rate of a technology's improvement (and its rate of
market diffusion). Answer: Typically follow S-Shape Curve
◉ 3 Types of Technological Change. Answer: ① Platform Innovation
② Component Innovation
③ Design Innovation
◉ Platform Innovation. Answer: (3 Types of Technological Change)
- the emergence of a new technology based on scientific principles
that are distinctly different from those of existing ones (Ex: CD)
◉ Component Innovation. Answer: (3 Types of Technological
Change)
- one that uses new parts or materials within the same technological
platform (Ex: magnetic tape, floppy disk, and zip disk)
◉ Design Innovation. Answer: (3 Types of Technological Change)
- a reconfiguration of the linkages and layout of components within
the same technological platform (Ex: the decrease in size of floppy
disks)
, ◉ Stages of a Technology's Life Cycle. Answer: ① Introduction Stage
② Growth Stage
③ Maturity Stage
④ Decline Stage
◉ "Jumping the S-Curve". Answer: ① How to beat the growth cycle,
get on top and stay there
② High performers that are able to get to top of one S curve and
then make the jump/leap to transition to another successful
business (important for a sustained pattern of leaps and jumps)
ⓐ Create edge centered strategy (supplement original strategy)
ⓑ Shake up top management when business is still doing really well
ⓒ Create surplus talent (provides flexibility)
◉ Idea/Innovation funnels. Answer: - a conceptual framework with
a formal series of identifiable inputs, actions, and outputs that are
used to understand the relevance, risks, and value of an idea as it
progresses to maturity.
- Pipeline process should be flexible and scalable to enable rapid
evaluation, and include appropriate stakeholders for stage gate
approvals; the goal is not only to identify new innovative
