From the e-Activity, determine how selectionism helped this company redefine its business model.

Option International pursued a learning and selectionist approach. The selectionist trials of entire company were constantly directed by markets. The market appeared to be choosing which approach is most successful.

First, there came an attempt to brand Option products as PC accessories. The product was launched in 1998 as the FirstFone.

The initial market commentaries about the FirstFone were positive, but the product did not sell well. The Snap-on generated some sales, but was not the expected.

The second selectionist trial was an attempt at a supplier role to telecommunications companies. None of these subcontracting relationships proved to be very successful.

Yet, a third experiment was ongoing. Option had incorporated GPRS into its own card and launched it as the “Globetrotter” in the first quarter of 2001

Not all these experiments were started at the same time, but used as an alternative. They used the ventures as possible options that needed to be explored in order to make an educated choice. The knowledge gained from one tryout was immediately applied to the other experiments.

Selectionism helped Option to put more focus on the customer needs to be able to satisfy its customers.

•Select a new company or one selected in a previous discussion. Compare the challenges and the strategy used in Option International with your selected company

Escend and Options Challenges:

One of Escends challenges was customer needs. Escends had knowledge gaps because the customers could not express their needs; no one understood the product and; where it would create the most value. Option International knowledge gaps and unknowns were creating new business model and how to brand its product. Both companies were trying to get an understanding of the products for success on the market.

After failing an attempt on the market Escends reorganize the original approach to the project. Escends had to understand what they knew about the market opportunity and about their capability to take advantage of this opportunity. Like Option International unsuccessful attempt they learned from these projects. The knowledge that was gained was applied to new projects and direct collaboration with telecom operators became an Option superior business model. Both companies took the knowledge gain and took advantage of opportunities in the market.

*Provide an example of a project that would benefit from selectionism that was not discussed in the textbook or by another student, and explain why it would be beneficial.

I think Sports Authority would have benefited in selectionism by being innovational with their sale approach earlier on in the changing market. The customer was directed more towards online sales and Sports authority did not catch on, “Sports Authority, which was owned by the Los Angeles-based private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners, has said that it was hampered by $1.1 billion in debt, and was late in picking up on shifting consumer trends.1″ I think if early on if Sport Authority would have

Classmate post 2:

Rodney Brown

RE: Week 5 Discussion