This Is A Collaborative Group Clc Assignment Only Do Part 3
This Is A Collaborative Group Clc Assignment Only Do Part 3 4th
This is a Collaborative GROUP (CLC) assignment. ONLY DO PART 3 & 4. Throughout history, organizations have failed. Many have failed due to their lack of innovative structure and culture. Your group has the opportunity to research an organization that has failed because it was unsuccessful in implementing innovation. You may choose an organization of your own or one of the following: Blockbuster, Polaroid, Blackberry, Sears, Toys 'R' Us, Xerox, Atari, Kodak, or Borders.
In this assignment, you will build a 10-12 slide PowerPoint presentation with a title slide, presenter's notes, and references slide. In your presentation, address the following questions:
- What failing organization did you choose?
- What external factors contributed to the organization's failure?
- What internal factors contributed to the organization's failure? Do 1 slide only WITH REFERENCES…USE SIDE NOTES…NO PLAGIARISM
- What obstacles did the organization encounter? How were they handled? Do 1 slide only WITH REFERENCES…USE SIDE NOTES….NO PLAGIARISM
- What did the organization fail to forecast in the changing market?
- What could you have done, as leaders of the organization, to pivot the company to success?
While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines.
Paper For Above instruction
For this assignment, I have selected Kodak as the organization that failed due to unsuccessful innovation. Kodak's downfall provides a compelling case study of internal and external failures in adapting to technological change and market shifts. This comprehensive analysis addresses the internal factors contributed to Kodak’s failure, the obstacles encountered and how they were handled, as well as the forecasted market changes that Kodak failed to anticipate. Finally, recommendations for strategic leadership to pivot the organization towards success are discussed.
Internal Factors Contributing to Kodak's Failure
Kodak’s internal failure primarily stemmed from its reluctance to adapt its core business model and technological innovation strategies. Historically, Kodak was a leader in film photography, with a dominant market share and a successful business model based on film development and processing. However, Kodak's internal culture was characterized by complacency and resistance to disruptive innovation. Despite inventing the first digital camera in 1975, Kodak failed to capitalize on this technology due to fears of cannibalizing its film sales and damaging established revenue streams (Lucas & Goh, 2009). This internal conflict between innovation and the existing business model led to a strategic paralysis, preventing revitalization and adaptation to digital photography trends. Furthermore, effective organizational change management was lacking, as Kodak's leadership was hesitant to make bold shifts that might jeopardize their traditional business, resulting in missed opportunities for digital transformation (Christensen & Raynor, 2003).
Obstacles Encountered and How They Were Handled
Kodak faced several obstacles in transitioning from film to digital technology. The primary challenge was internal resistance to change, rooted in an entrenched corporate culture that valued developed film revenues over emerging digital technologies. This resistance was compounded by strategic missteps, such as underestimating competitors like Sony and Canon who aggressively pursued digital markets. Kodak attempted to develop digital cameras and imaging products; however, their efforts were often hindered by fragmented organizational focus and insufficient investment in digital infrastructure (Eisenmann et al., 2012). Additionally, Kodak struggled with brand perception issues, as consumers associated the company with traditional film, making it difficult to shift consumer behavior. These obstacles were partially addressed through diversification efforts and partnerships—they licensed digital technology and attempted to reposition their brand—yet internal resistance and strategic indecision limited their effectiveness (Tripsas & Gavetti, 2000).
Market Failures and Leadership Strategy
Kodak failed to forecast the rapid decline of the film market and the rise of digital photography as a dominant mode. While Kodak invented digital camera technology, the company underestimated the speed at which digital would overtake film sales. Kodak's leaders focused on protecting their profitable film division rather than fully investing in the digital transition, ultimately losing market share to more agile competitors. They were slow to change their business model, failing to recognize digital imaging as a core growth area. This strategic misjudgment was driven by a desire to sustain traditional revenue streams at the expense of innovation (Christensen & Raynor, 2003). Effective leadership could have mitigated this by embracing disruptive innovation early, reallocating resources towards digital R&D, and fostering a corporate culture receptive to change.
Recommendations for Leadership to Pivot Toward Success
To pivot Kodak toward success, organizational leaders should have adopted a proactive stance toward disruptive innovation. This entails establishing dedicated innovation units insulated from core operations, thus allowing risk-taking and experimentation without jeopardizing core revenue (Tushman & O'Reilly, 1996). Leaders should have fostered a culture that encourages technological experimentation and embraces failure as part of the innovation process. Strategic alliances and partnerships with emerging digital startups could have accelerated market entry and technological adaptation (Chesbrough, 2003). Moreover, embracing a customer-centric approach by actively monitoring changing consumer preferences and digital trends would have enabled Kodak to better anticipate digital market growth. Effective change management, clear vision, and commitment to innovation are crucial leadership strategies to turn potential disruption into an opportunity for renewal (Hamel, 2000). Implementing these strategies proactively could have helped Kodak maintain its market relevance and financial stability in the digital age.
References
- Chesbrough, H. W. (2003). Open Innovation: The New Imperative for Creating and Profiting from Technology. Harvard Business School Press.
- Christensen, C. M., & Raynor, M. E. (2003). The Innovator's Solution: Creating and Sustaining Successful Growth. Harvard Business Review Press.
- Eisenmann, T., Parker, G., & Van Alstyne, M. (2012). Platform envelopment. Strategic Management Journal, 33(12), 1270-1285.
- Hamel, G. (2000). Leading the Revolution. Harvard Business School Press.
- Lucas, H. C., & Goh, J. M. (2009). Disruptive technology: How Kodak missed the digital photography revolution. Journal of Business Strategies, 26(2), 139–154.
- Tripsas, M., & Gavetti, G. (2000). Capabilities, cognition, and inertia: Evidence from digital imaging. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 24(10), 89–104.
- Tushman, M. L., & O'Reilly, C. A. (1996). Ambidextrous organizations: Managing evolutionary and revolutionary change. California Management Review, 38(4), 8–30.