Assignment:
Consider the following scenario:
Bill is a manager at a midsize personal computer manufacturer offering customers desktops and laptops. He has watched the recent, rapid rise of tablet computers with some concern. Initially, tablets introduced to the market had limited functionality and poor-quality graphics. They posed little threat to the personal computer market. Soon, however, big name companies set their sights on perfecting the tablet. Producers of tablets are now making big profits. More and more consumers are choosing to make their next computer a tablet. Bill worries about his company's ability to enter the tablet market, and he does not want to be left behind when and if the tablet replaces other types of personal computers.
This scenario illustrates the capacity of new technology to spur economic and social change.
You will explore this phenomenon in depth as you discuss disruptive technology theory as it relates to the case study of Netflix.
You will also take the next step in your doctoral journey by making a first attempt at choosing a research topic.
Learning Objectives
Independent scholars will:
• Evaluate the impact of disruptive technology on a business
• Develop strategies for benefiting from or surviving disruptive technology in a business
• Formulate a topical business problem for doctoral research
Photo Credit: Innocenti / Cultura /Getty Images
Required Readings
Allen, G., Feils, D., &Disbrow, H. (2014). The rise and fall of Netflix: What happened and where will it go from here? Journal of the International Academy for Case Studies 20(1), 135-143.
Ciutiene, R., &Thattakath, E. W. (2014). Influence of dynamic capabilities in creating disruptive innovation. Economics & Business, 26, 15-21. doi:10.7250/eb.2014.015
Corsi, S., & Di Minin, A. (2014). Disruptive innovation ... in reverse: Adding a geographical dimension to disruptive innovation theory. Creativity and Innovation Management, 23(1), 76-90. doi:10.1111/caim.12043
Maldonado, E. R. (2014). How to identify disruptive new businesses. Global Conference on Business & Finance Proceedings, 9(1), 510-520.
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
Walden University. (2015c). APA course paper template (6th ed.).
Important Note: This template must be used for every Assignment in this course, unless otherwise noted. Failure to use this template will result in a mandatory grade of zero for that Assignment. It is recommended that you download and save this template so you have it available for future Assignments.
Required Media
Christensen, C. (Producer). (2008). Business model innovation beats technical innovation [Video file; Books24x7 version].
Christensen, C. (Producer). (2011). Developing disruptive innovations [Video file; Books24x7 version].
Laureate Education (Producer). (2012b). Choosing your doctoral topic [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Discussion: Disruptive Technology: Netflix Case Study
Technology is constantly changing and, in turn, can help leaders promote widespread social and economic change. For example, Mattox (2013) pointed out that if 3D-printing technology were to become available and accepted by the masses, it could dramatically shift control of consumer production, resulting in a significant economic and social change. Consumers could then theoretically manufacture everything from lifesaving medicines to high-grade weaponry. Is such technological change desirable or detrimental?
Given the potential of technological change to generate economic upheaval, it should be no surprise that the question of whether technological change is desirable has garnered attention in the business research community. Theories have emerged to explain the development and diffusion of technological changes-and the theory of disruptive innovation is among the most influential. Since its introduction by Clayton Christensen in the mid-1990s, the theory has raised considerable debate. Topics of debate include how to define disruptive innovation and technology; when and why it occurs; and how to predict, survive, or promote it. As the pace of technological change accelerates, business professionals have given increased attention to this field of research and the impact of disruptive technology.
In this Discussion, you will consider the case of Netflix.
To prepare for this Discussion, review Learning Resources concerning disruptive technology and disruptive innovation. Read the case study "The Rise and Fall of Netflix: What Happened and Where Will It Go From Here?" and consider Netflix's role as a disruptive innovation or technology that is now being threatened by the disruptive technology of its competitors. Netflix's leaders are facing many challenges as they consider the global market. Put yourself in the intern Chris's position, and think about how you, as a global change agent, would advise the company's leaders.
Post an analysis of the impact of disruptive technology on Netflix, with your own prognosis for this business. Your analysis should be structured as follows:
• Summarize the challenges Netflix is facing, as detailed in the case study.
• Evaluate whether disruptive technology has a primarily positive or negative impact on Netflix's challenges. Provide a rationale.
• In line with your argument, identify whom disruptive technology benefits and whom it adversely affects.
• Develop two strategies for either surviving or taking advantage of disruptive technology.
• Support your post with data and information from the Learning Resources and at least one peer-reviewed article or journal of your choice.
Be sure to support your work with a minimum of two specific citations from this week's Learning Resources and one or more additional scholarly sources.
Respond to at least two of your colleagues' postings by doing one of the following:
• Refute the position of a colleague who took a position on disruptive technology similar to your own. Thus, you are taking the opposite position from your original post.
• Refute or support your colleague's analysis of the most important considerations for surviving or taking advantage of disruptive technology.
Please note that, for each response, you must include a minimum of one appropriately cited scholarly reference.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what insights you gained as a result of reading the comments your colleagues made.
Assignment: Practical Business Problem Solving Topic
Business research can help managers plan strategies by - identifying the existence of problems or opportunities present in the organization.
-William G. Zikmund, Barry J. Babin, John C. Carr, and Mitch Griffith, Business Research Methods
Despite having general areas of academic interest, many doctoral independent scholars find choosing a specific topic for their research study a challenge. In addition to making an academic contribution, your work will address a real-world business problem and have the potential to impact the daily practices of the business community. Writing and researching a Doctoral Study is an opportunity for you to explore a topic of interest, identify a problem, and express your viewpoint and perspective as your ideas evolve by way of you learning more about the topic and about your own questions and hypotheses.
Your past professional experience can be a valuable source for identifying a research topic during the initial stages of your search. You should also review the literature on topics of interest. Finding a practical business problem, for which your in-depth academic research efforts may help you uncover possible solutions, is a critical first step in a successful doctoral process.
To prepare for this Assignment, review the media piece "Choosing Your Doctoral Topic." Consider a topic you might be interested in studying and a potential question for future research. Note: This is not the time to talk about the specifics of your Doctoral Study but rather to describe generally your topic of interest and why you have chosen it. This will acquaint the reader (or listener) with your study topic. Also keep in mind that many early doctoral independent scholars tend to focus on solutions. Instead, focus on clearly articulating a known business-related problem and not a social problem.
Submit a 2 to 3 page paper (excluding cover and References pages) in which you formulate one or more business problems on your chosen topic. In your paper, do the following:
• Provide an overview of the topic you are interested in studying, including the context and your rationale for selecting your topic.
• Delineate a brief history of this area of study and the relevancy of this topic in today's business world.
• Identify any similarities between your interests and those discussed in the media piece "Choosing Your Doctoral Topic."
• Devise one or more business-related problems related to your chosen topic.
• Speculate what type of data you might need to research one of these business-related problems and how you might go about collecting that data.
Readings:
1. Disruptive Innovation in Reverse: Adding a Geographical Dimension to Disruptive Innovation Theory
By Simone Corsi and Alberto Di Minin
2. THE RISE AND FALL OF NETFLIX: WHAT HAPPENED AND WHERE WILL IT GO FROM HERE?
By Grace Allen, Western Carolina University Dorothee Feils, Holly Disbrow
3. Influence of Dynamic Capabilities in Creating Disruptive Innovation
By Ruta Ciutiene, Emil William Thattakath