VHS v/s VCR

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VHS v/s VCR

by pareekbharat86 » Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:21 pm
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 (VCR's), 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 1980's, Beta was no longer in production.


The alignment of producers of VHS-format VCR's with producers of prerecorded videotapes is most similar to which of the following?
(A)The alignment of an automobile manufacturer with another automobile manufacturer to adopt a standard design for automobile engines
(B)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
(C)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
(D)The alignment of an automobile manufacturer with its dealers to adopt a plan to improve automobile design
(E)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

OA is C
Thanks,
Bharat.
Source: — Reading Comprehension |

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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Fri Nov 22, 2013 8:10 am
The alignment of producers of VHS-format VCR's with producers of prerecorded videotapes is most similar to which of the following?

From the passage: 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.

Let's use generic language to describe the situation.
The alignment gave the perception that the product (VHS VCR) was heavily supported due to the availability of the unique thing (VHS tape) needed to make the product operate.

We'll now compare this with the answer choices


(A)The alignment of an automobile manufacturer with another automobile manufacturer to adopt a standard design for automobile engines
Nothing here about another company providing a unique thing needed to make the product (car) operate. ELIMINATE

(B)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
Nothing here about another company providing a unique thing needed to make the product (car) operate. This merely suggests that the car company has handcuffed itself by agreeing to buy something from only one company. ELIMINATE

(C)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
Nice. Here, another company provides a unique thing (an engine-specific fuel) needed to make the product (car) operate. KEEP

(D)The alignment of an automobile manufacturer with its dealers to adopt a plan to improve automobile design
Nothing here about another company providing a unique thing needed to make the product (car) operate. ELIMINATE

(E)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
Nothing here about another company providing a unique thing needed to make the product (car) operate. ELIMINATE

Answer: C

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
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