Traditionally, the first firm to commercialize a new technology has benefited from the unique opportunity to shape product definitions, forcing followers to adapt to a standard or invest in an unproven alternative. Today, however, the largest payoffs may go to companies that lead in developing integrated approaches for successful mass production and distribution.
Producers of the Beta format for videocassette recorders (VCRs), for example, were first to develop the VCR commercially in 1975, but producers of the rival VHS (Video Home System) format proved to be more successful at forming strategic alliances with other producers and distributors to manufacture and market their VCR format. Seeking to maintain exclusive control over VCR distribution, Beta producers were reluctant to form such alliances and eventually lost ground to VHS in the competition for the global VCR market.
Despite Beta's substantial technological head start and the fact that VHS was neither technically better nor cheaper than Beta, developers of VHS quickly turned a slight early lead in sales into a dominant position. Strategic alignments with producers of prerecorded tapes reinforced the VHS advantage. The perception among consumers that prerecorded tapes were more available in VHS format further expanded VHS's share of the market. By the end of the 1980s, Beta was no longer in production.
The alignment of producers of VHS format VCRs with producers of prerecorded videotapes is most similar to which of the following?
The alignment of an automobile manufacturer with another automobile manufacturer to adopt a standard design for automobile engines
The alignment of an automobile manufacturer with an automotive glass company whereby the manufacturer agrees to purchase automobile windshields only from that one glass company
The alignment of an automobile manufacturer with a petroleum company to ensure the widespread availability of the fuel required by a new type of engine developed by the manufacturer
The alignment of an automobile manufacturer with its dealers to adopt a plan to improve automobile design
The alignment of an automobile dealer with an automobile rental chain to adopt a strategy for an advertising campaign to promote a new type of automobile
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正确答案是 B。VHS 格式 VCR 生产商与预录制录像带生产商的联盟,最类似于汽车制造商与汽车玻璃公司的联盟,其中汽车制造商同意只从那家汽车玻璃公司采购汽车挡风玻璃。在 VHS 格式 VCR 的情况下,一个重要的联盟成员是预录制录像带生产商,它们在帮助提高 VHS 格式 VCR 在市场上的可用性方面起到了重要作用,并且消费者也认为预录制录像带更多的是 VHS 格式。这与汽车制造商与汽车玻璃公司的联盟最为相似,因为汽车制造商要求只从那家公司购买挡风玻璃,以确保其在市场上的可用性。
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