Ok. How about helping a newbie to get away from QCOM for a while? ;)
I'm trying to apply the Gorilla Game to a very personal situation: my job. I'm trying to see if my new employer (Intranet Solutions, INRS) is in a royalty or gorilla game. I know there's an answer I'd prefer <g>, but I'd rather be shot down horribly and learn something than wear rose colored glasses. I'm also not necessarily looking for definitive answers (though that would be nice), but also how to go about finding the answers. The following is a first draft, and a starting point for further analysis. One final disclaimer: I shamelessly plugged my technology when I thought it relevant <g>.
A. Is there a discontinuous innovation or a proprietary open architecture?
Does this ( outsideinserver.com ) count as a discontinuous innovation? It allows dynamic, on-the-fly, templated, server side conversion of just about any file format into HTML (and I give you one guess what markup language is next). Just about any innovation is discontinuous to some degree, so where do you draw the line (especially in technology)?
B. Does it have the potential to grow into a mass market phenomenon, become a standard?
As a part of a larger, cohesive content management suite, I believe it does, along with this client-side viewing technology: ie.inso.com
C. Are there high barriers to entry and high switching costs?
Dealing with over 200 file formats along with the architecture to be flexible provides for a high barrier to entry for the file viewing/conversion side. Switching from one content management system to another is painful as far as I know.
D. Have value chains developed?
I was hoping someone could help me find more information to answer this one. I don't understand the value chains around content management very well (yet).
E. Have they crossed the chasm?
From the Broadvision analysis ( people.ne.mediaone.net ):
I believe that here the answer would be yes. I certainly would not expect companies like Sears and Wal-Mart to commit their e-commerce initiatives to unproven, risky technology. Furthermore, I think the fact that the company has taken its base product and created specialized versions for specific industries is reflective of a company operating in the bowling alley.
This is part of the Gorilla Game that I have trouble with when dealing with non-consumer directed products. I can much more understand that when my technophobic friends and family are buying their first cell-phones, that the mobile communication industry is well past the chasm. How can I get an insight into business software?
F. Existence of hypergrowth?
Again from the Broadvision analysis:
Revenue growth over the last year was 122%. Quite respectable, but not quite up to tornado standards. Still, it's hard to argue that e-commerce in general is in the midst of a huge tornado.
I work for Intranet Solutions, so I'd rather just point to the SEC filings and let them speak for themselves.
Thanks for any help, criticism, insight, flames, etc.
Tom CF |
