Innovations: Disruptive vs. Sustaining, Innovation Ambition Matrix, and Facial Recognition Software

Differences between disruptive and sustaining innovations

Q1 Innovations are often classified as DISRUPTIVE (d) innovations or SUSTAINING (s) innovations. Using examples from class materials or your own research, explain the differences between disruptive and sustaining innovations, in relation to;

a) market demand (before and after the d or s innovation).

b) influence of technology on the (d or s) innovation.

c) impact of the innovation (d or s) on the business.

Q2 Discuss the statement that Sustaining innovations are actually ‘business as usual’, giving one point agreeing with the statement and one point opposing the statement.

Q3 The innovation ambition matrix gives three classes of innovation (core / adjacent / transformational). Analyse the risk-reward function for each of these using evidence from the model, referring to the Ansoff matrix, and an example from class materials or your own research, in your answer.

a) Core 

b) Adjacent

c) Transformational

Q4 Discuss any connections you can see between the innovation classification seen in Q1 (Disruptive / Sustaining), and the innovation ambition matrix (Core / Adjacent / Transformational) used in Q3. 

Q5 Classify each of the following possible innovations (as core /adjacent / transformational) according to the innovation ambition matrix, giving one reason for your answer.                                

a) Amazon.com starts its own online university.

b) Tesla begins producing electric bicycles.

c) Air New Zealand enters the autonomous airborne urban taxi market.

d) A prosperity religion church starts a political party.

e) KFC introduces ‘beer-battered fried chicken’.

Q6 Read the story of a small New Zealand startup called Book-Me-Bob (BmB) taking on global businesses, here ; https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12314913, 

and listen to an interview with the CEO here;

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/business-spotlight-david-thompson-on-book-me-bob/ 

a) What were that innovation pressures that led to the start of BmB ?

b) How has industry structure been a factor in the BmB story ?

c) Based on the information in the story, comment on whether you think BmB is an ‘agile’ development or not?  

d) State two benefits to the accommodation provider from using BmB?

e) What is one key weakness of BmB against firms like Otis?

Q7 Facial Recognition Software (FRS) is the ‘next big thing’ and is expected to have a huge commercial impact in the next 10 years. Many people oppose the widespread use of FRS as they say it will impact their rights as private citizens.

Using your own evidence from online research answer the following questions. Al sources must be referenced correctly using APA notation.

a)What are two of the benefits expected from the use of FRS?

b)What are two of the concerns of those who oppose the use of FRS?

c)What innovative responses to FRS are being developed by these groups?

d)Comment on the situation in Aotearoa-New Zealand regarding existing FRS use.