Topic 1 – Disruptive innovations: Companies like Google (self-driving cars), Tesla (electric cars), Uber (taxis), and Airbnb (rental apartments) have come up with industry-disrupting innovations. While incumbents in some of these industries have responded by trying to stop these new entrants (e.g., taxicab companies have tried to get legislation passed to restrict Uber), others (e.g., automobile companies) have ignored new entrants or tried to develop their own alternatives to the products offered by other new entrants (e.g., to electric cars). What might account for these differences in response?
Topic 2 – Technology adoption: You can always look back and say that a company should have done something about the new technology. However, managers must distinguish between a technology that creates a temporary fad and a technology that genuinely transforms the industry. As a manager, how might you distinguish between the two? How can you design your organization so you are not late to market with a popular new technology? Support your answer with concrete example(s).
