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As companies tend to innovate faster than their customers’ needs evolve, most organizations eventually end up producing products or services that are actually overly sophisticated, extremely expensive, and rather complicated for many customers in their market. These innovations fall under the category of sustaining innovations, innovations that simply improve existing products. Companies pursue sustaining innovations at the higher tiers of their markets because this is what has historically helped them succeed: by charging the highest prices to their most demanding and sophisticated customers at the top of the market, companies achieve the greatest profitability. However, by doing so, companies unwittingly open the door to another category of innovations - “disruptive innovations”. In contrast to sustaining innovations, disruptive innovations lie at the bottom of the market. They are made not only by harnessing new technologies but also by developing new business models and exploiting old technologies in new ways.
An innovation that is disruptive allows a whole new population of consumers at the bottom of a market access to a product or service that was historically only accessible to consumers with a lot of money or a lot of skill. Personal computers, for instance, were disruptive innovations because they created a new mass market for computers -  previously, expensive mainframe computers were sold only to big companies and research universities. Characteristics of disruptive businesses, at least in their initial stages, can include:  lower gross margins, smaller target markets, and simpler products and services that may not appear as attractive as existing solutions when compared against traditional performance metrics.  Because these lower tiers of the market offer lower gross margins, they are unattractive to other firms moving upward in the market, creating space at the bottom of the market for new disruptive competitors to emerge. 
Which of the following statements is supported by the information given in the passage?
  • a)
    A disruptive business is less likely to face competition in the market than a business pursuing sustaining innovations.
  • b)
    Companies following innovations that are improvements of existing products do not knowingly leave market space for disruptive businesses to emerge.
  • c)
    Most technological innovations can be considered disruptive innovations.
  • d)
    It is likely that to produce products, disruptive businesses engage more in using old technologies in new ways than using new technologies. 
  • e)
    Companies typically pursuing sustaining innovations do not find disruptive products attractive since these products are typically not profitable. 
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
As companies tend to innovate faster than their customers’ needs...
Passage Analysis
Summary and Main Point
Since this is a Global Inference question, we cannot pre-think on specific lines. However, we must keep in mind that four out of the five given answer choices will not follow from what is stated in the passage; these answer choices are INCORRECT. Select the answer choice that is bolstered by specific facts/ideas mentioned in the passage. 
Answer Choices
A
A disruptive business is less likely to face competition in the market than a business pursuing sustaining innovations.
Incorrect: Out of Scope
There is no information given in the passage to support any comparative analysis regarding the level of competition faced by companies pursing sustaining innovations and those pursuing disruptive ones.
B
Companies following innovations that are improvements of existing products do not knowingly leave market space for disruptive businesses to emerge.
Correct
This choice can be inferred from the following statement made in the passage:
However, by doing so, companies unwittingly open the door to “disruptive innovations” at the bottom of the market
C
Most technological innovations can be considered disruptive innovations.
Incorrect: Out of Scope
Although the author does cite the example of personal computers to explain the concept of disruptive innovations, it does not provide any basis to conclude that majority of such innovations deal with technology. 
D
It is likely that to produce products, disruptive businesses engage more in using old technologies in new ways than using new technologies. 
Incorrect: Inconsistent
All that the author states is that such businesses make use of both new technologies and old technologies in new ways. There is no information given to support which of the two is used more.
E
Companies typically pursuing sustaining innovations do not find disruptive products attractive since these products are typically not profitable. 
Incorrect: Inconsistent
We are told that such companies do not find disruptive innovations attractive because these innovations offer “lower” gross margins and not that they are not profitable at all.
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As companies tend to innovate faster than their customers’ needs evolve, most organizations eventually end up producing products or services that are actually overly sophisticated, extremely expensive, and rather complicated for many customers in their market. These innovations fall under the category of sustaining innovations, innovations that simply improve existing products. Companies pursue sustaining innovations at the higher tiers of their markets because this is what has historically helped them succeed: by charging the highest prices to their most demanding and sophisticated customers at the top of the market, companies achieve the greatest profitability. However, by doing so, companies unwittingly open the door toanother category of innovations - “disruptive innovations”. In contrast to sustaining innovations, disruptive innovations lie at the bottom of the market. They are made not only by harnessing new technologies but also by developing new business models and exploiting old technologies in new ways.An innovation that is disruptive allows a whole new population of consumers at the bottom of a market access to a product or service that was historically only accessible to consumers with a lot of money or a lot of skill. Personal computers, for instance, were disruptive innovations because they created a new mass market for computers - previously, expensive mainframe computers were sold only to big companies and research universities. Characteristics of disruptive businesses, at least in their initial stages, can include: lower gross margins, smaller target markets, and simpler products and services that may not appear as attractive as existing solutions whencompared against traditional performance metrics. Because these lower tiers of the market offer lower gross margins, they are unattractive to other firms moving upward in the market, creating space at the bottom of the market for new disruptive competitors to emerge.Which of the following statements is supported by the information given in the passage?a)A disruptive business is less likely to face competition in the market than a business pursuing sustaining innovations.b)Companies following innovations that are improvements of existing products do not knowingly leave market space for disruptive businesses to emerge.c)Most technological innovations can be considered disruptive innovations.d)It is likely that to produce products, disruptive businesses engage more in using old technologies in new ways than using new technologies.e)Companies typically pursuing sustaining innovations do not find disruptive products attractive since these products are typically not profitable.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
As companies tend to innovate faster than their customers’ needs evolve, most organizations eventually end up producing products or services that are actually overly sophisticated, extremely expensive, and rather complicated for many customers in their market. These innovations fall under the category of sustaining innovations, innovations that simply improve existing products. Companies pursue sustaining innovations at the higher tiers of their markets because this is what has historically helped them succeed: by charging the highest prices to their most demanding and sophisticated customers at the top of the market, companies achieve the greatest profitability. However, by doing so, companies unwittingly open the door toanother category of innovations - “disruptive innovations”. In contrast to sustaining innovations, disruptive innovations lie at the bottom of the market. They are made not only by harnessing new technologies but also by developing new business models and exploiting old technologies in new ways.An innovation that is disruptive allows a whole new population of consumers at the bottom of a market access to a product or service that was historically only accessible to consumers with a lot of money or a lot of skill. Personal computers, for instance, were disruptive innovations because they created a new mass market for computers - previously, expensive mainframe computers were sold only to big companies and research universities. Characteristics of disruptive businesses, at least in their initial stages, can include: lower gross margins, smaller target markets, and simpler products and services that may not appear as attractive as existing solutions whencompared against traditional performance metrics. Because these lower tiers of the market offer lower gross margins, they are unattractive to other firms moving upward in the market, creating space at the bottom of the market for new disruptive competitors to emerge.Which of the following statements is supported by the information given in the passage?a)A disruptive business is less likely to face competition in the market than a business pursuing sustaining innovations.b)Companies following innovations that are improvements of existing products do not knowingly leave market space for disruptive businesses to emerge.c)Most technological innovations can be considered disruptive innovations.d)It is likely that to produce products, disruptive businesses engage more in using old technologies in new ways than using new technologies.e)Companies typically pursuing sustaining innovations do not find disruptive products attractive since these products are typically not profitable.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? for GMAT 2024 is part of GMAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the GMAT exam syllabus. Information about As companies tend to innovate faster than their customers’ needs evolve, most organizations eventually end up producing products or services that are actually overly sophisticated, extremely expensive, and rather complicated for many customers in their market. These innovations fall under the category of sustaining innovations, innovations that simply improve existing products. Companies pursue sustaining innovations at the higher tiers of their markets because this is what has historically helped them succeed: by charging the highest prices to their most demanding and sophisticated customers at the top of the market, companies achieve the greatest profitability. However, by doing so, companies unwittingly open the door toanother category of innovations - “disruptive innovations”. In contrast to sustaining innovations, disruptive innovations lie at the bottom of the market. They are made not only by harnessing new technologies but also by developing new business models and exploiting old technologies in new ways.An innovation that is disruptive allows a whole new population of consumers at the bottom of a market access to a product or service that was historically only accessible to consumers with a lot of money or a lot of skill. Personal computers, for instance, were disruptive innovations because they created a new mass market for computers - previously, expensive mainframe computers were sold only to big companies and research universities. Characteristics of disruptive businesses, at least in their initial stages, can include: lower gross margins, smaller target markets, and simpler products and services that may not appear as attractive as existing solutions whencompared against traditional performance metrics. Because these lower tiers of the market offer lower gross margins, they are unattractive to other firms moving upward in the market, creating space at the bottom of the market for new disruptive competitors to emerge.Which of the following statements is supported by the information given in the passage?a)A disruptive business is less likely to face competition in the market than a business pursuing sustaining innovations.b)Companies following innovations that are improvements of existing products do not knowingly leave market space for disruptive businesses to emerge.c)Most technological innovations can be considered disruptive innovations.d)It is likely that to produce products, disruptive businesses engage more in using old technologies in new ways than using new technologies.e)Companies typically pursuing sustaining innovations do not find disruptive products attractive since these products are typically not profitable.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for As companies tend to innovate faster than their customers’ needs evolve, most organizations eventually end up producing products or services that are actually overly sophisticated, extremely expensive, and rather complicated for many customers in their market. These innovations fall under the category of sustaining innovations, innovations that simply improve existing products. Companies pursue sustaining innovations at the higher tiers of their markets because this is what has historically helped them succeed: by charging the highest prices to their most demanding and sophisticated customers at the top of the market, companies achieve the greatest profitability. However, by doing so, companies unwittingly open the door toanother category of innovations - “disruptive innovations”. In contrast to sustaining innovations, disruptive innovations lie at the bottom of the market. They are made not only by harnessing new technologies but also by developing new business models and exploiting old technologies in new ways.An innovation that is disruptive allows a whole new population of consumers at the bottom of a market access to a product or service that was historically only accessible to consumers with a lot of money or a lot of skill. Personal computers, for instance, were disruptive innovations because they created a new mass market for computers - previously, expensive mainframe computers were sold only to big companies and research universities. Characteristics of disruptive businesses, at least in their initial stages, can include: lower gross margins, smaller target markets, and simpler products and services that may not appear as attractive as existing solutions whencompared against traditional performance metrics. Because these lower tiers of the market offer lower gross margins, they are unattractive to other firms moving upward in the market, creating space at the bottom of the market for new disruptive competitors to emerge.Which of the following statements is supported by the information given in the passage?a)A disruptive business is less likely to face competition in the market than a business pursuing sustaining innovations.b)Companies following innovations that are improvements of existing products do not knowingly leave market space for disruptive businesses to emerge.c)Most technological innovations can be considered disruptive innovations.d)It is likely that to produce products, disruptive businesses engage more in using old technologies in new ways than using new technologies.e)Companies typically pursuing sustaining innovations do not find disruptive products attractive since these products are typically not profitable.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for As companies tend to innovate faster than their customers’ needs evolve, most organizations eventually end up producing products or services that are actually overly sophisticated, extremely expensive, and rather complicated for many customers in their market. These innovations fall under the category of sustaining innovations, innovations that simply improve existing products. Companies pursue sustaining innovations at the higher tiers of their markets because this is what has historically helped them succeed: by charging the highest prices to their most demanding and sophisticated customers at the top of the market, companies achieve the greatest profitability. However, by doing so, companies unwittingly open the door toanother category of innovations - “disruptive innovations”. In contrast to sustaining innovations, disruptive innovations lie at the bottom of the market. They are made not only by harnessing new technologies but also by developing new business models and exploiting old technologies in new ways.An innovation that is disruptive allows a whole new population of consumers at the bottom of a market access to a product or service that was historically only accessible to consumers with a lot of money or a lot of skill. Personal computers, for instance, were disruptive innovations because they created a new mass market for computers - previously, expensive mainframe computers were sold only to big companies and research universities. Characteristics of disruptive businesses, at least in their initial stages, can include: lower gross margins, smaller target markets, and simpler products and services that may not appear as attractive as existing solutions whencompared against traditional performance metrics. Because these lower tiers of the market offer lower gross margins, they are unattractive to other firms moving upward in the market, creating space at the bottom of the market for new disruptive competitors to emerge.Which of the following statements is supported by the information given in the passage?a)A disruptive business is less likely to face competition in the market than a business pursuing sustaining innovations.b)Companies following innovations that are improvements of existing products do not knowingly leave market space for disruptive businesses to emerge.c)Most technological innovations can be considered disruptive innovations.d)It is likely that to produce products, disruptive businesses engage more in using old technologies in new ways than using new technologies.e)Companies typically pursuing sustaining innovations do not find disruptive products attractive since these products are typically not profitable.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for GMAT. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for GMAT Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of As companies tend to innovate faster than their customers’ needs evolve, most organizations eventually end up producing products or services that are actually overly sophisticated, extremely expensive, and rather complicated for many customers in their market. These innovations fall under the category of sustaining innovations, innovations that simply improve existing products. Companies pursue sustaining innovations at the higher tiers of their markets because this is what has historically helped them succeed: by charging the highest prices to their most demanding and sophisticated customers at the top of the market, companies achieve the greatest profitability. However, by doing so, companies unwittingly open the door toanother category of innovations - “disruptive innovations”. In contrast to sustaining innovations, disruptive innovations lie at the bottom of the market. They are made not only by harnessing new technologies but also by developing new business models and exploiting old technologies in new ways.An innovation that is disruptive allows a whole new population of consumers at the bottom of a market access to a product or service that was historically only accessible to consumers with a lot of money or a lot of skill. Personal computers, for instance, were disruptive innovations because they created a new mass market for computers - previously, expensive mainframe computers were sold only to big companies and research universities. Characteristics of disruptive businesses, at least in their initial stages, can include: lower gross margins, smaller target markets, and simpler products and services that may not appear as attractive as existing solutions whencompared against traditional performance metrics. Because these lower tiers of the market offer lower gross margins, they are unattractive to other firms moving upward in the market, creating space at the bottom of the market for new disruptive competitors to emerge.Which of the following statements is supported by the information given in the passage?a)A disruptive business is less likely to face competition in the market than a business pursuing sustaining innovations.b)Companies following innovations that are improvements of existing products do not knowingly leave market space for disruptive businesses to emerge.c)Most technological innovations can be considered disruptive innovations.d)It is likely that to produce products, disruptive businesses engage more in using old technologies in new ways than using new technologies.e)Companies typically pursuing sustaining innovations do not find disruptive products attractive since these products are typically not profitable.Correct answer is option 'B'. 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They are made not only by harnessing new technologies but also by developing new business models and exploiting old technologies in new ways.An innovation that is disruptive allows a whole new population of consumers at the bottom of a market access to a product or service that was historically only accessible to consumers with a lot of money or a lot of skill. Personal computers, for instance, were disruptive innovations because they created a new mass market for computers - previously, expensive mainframe computers were sold only to big companies and research universities. Characteristics of disruptive businesses, at least in their initial stages, can include: lower gross margins, smaller target markets, and simpler products and services that may not appear as attractive as existing solutions whencompared against traditional performance metrics. Because these lower tiers of the market offer lower gross margins, they are unattractive to other firms moving upward in the market, creating space at the bottom of the market for new disruptive competitors to emerge.Which of the following statements is supported by the information given in the passage?a)A disruptive business is less likely to face competition in the market than a business pursuing sustaining innovations.b)Companies following innovations that are improvements of existing products do not knowingly leave market space for disruptive businesses to emerge.c)Most technological innovations can be considered disruptive innovations.d)It is likely that to produce products, disruptive businesses engage more in using old technologies in new ways than using new technologies.e)Companies typically pursuing sustaining innovations do not find disruptive products attractive since these products are typically not profitable.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for As companies tend to innovate faster than their customers’ needs evolve, most organizations eventually end up producing products or services that are actually overly sophisticated, extremely expensive, and rather complicated for many customers in their market. These innovations fall under the category of sustaining innovations, innovations that simply improve existing products. Companies pursue sustaining innovations at the higher tiers of their markets because this is what has historically helped them succeed: by charging the highest prices to their most demanding and sophisticated customers at the top of the market, companies achieve the greatest profitability. However, by doing so, companies unwittingly open the door toanother category of innovations - “disruptive innovations”. In contrast to sustaining innovations, disruptive innovations lie at the bottom of the market. They are made not only by harnessing new technologies but also by developing new business models and exploiting old technologies in new ways.An innovation that is disruptive allows a whole new population of consumers at the bottom of a market access to a product or service that was historically only accessible to consumers with a lot of money or a lot of skill. Personal computers, for instance, were disruptive innovations because they created a new mass market for computers - previously, expensive mainframe computers were sold only to big companies and research universities. Characteristics of disruptive businesses, at least in their initial stages, can include: lower gross margins, smaller target markets, and simpler products and services that may not appear as attractive as existing solutions whencompared against traditional performance metrics. Because these lower tiers of the market offer lower gross margins, they are unattractive to other firms moving upward in the market, creating space at the bottom of the market for new disruptive competitors to emerge.Which of the following statements is supported by the information given in the passage?a)A disruptive business is less likely to face competition in the market than a business pursuing sustaining innovations.b)Companies following innovations that are improvements of existing products do not knowingly leave market space for disruptive businesses to emerge.c)Most technological innovations can be considered disruptive innovations.d)It is likely that to produce products, disruptive businesses engage more in using old technologies in new ways than using new technologies.e)Companies typically pursuing sustaining innovations do not find disruptive products attractive since these products are typically not profitable.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of As companies tend to innovate faster than their customers’ needs evolve, most organizations eventually end up producing products or services that are actually overly sophisticated, extremely expensive, and rather complicated for many customers in their market. These innovations fall under the category of sustaining innovations, innovations that simply improve existing products. Companies pursue sustaining innovations at the higher tiers of their markets because this is what has historically helped them succeed: by charging the highest prices to their most demanding and sophisticated customers at the top of the market, companies achieve the greatest profitability. However, by doing so, companies unwittingly open the door toanother category of innovations - “disruptive innovations”. In contrast to sustaining innovations, disruptive innovations lie at the bottom of the market. They are made not only by harnessing new technologies but also by developing new business models and exploiting old technologies in new ways.An innovation that is disruptive allows a whole new population of consumers at the bottom of a market access to a product or service that was historically only accessible to consumers with a lot of money or a lot of skill. Personal computers, for instance, were disruptive innovations because they created a new mass market for computers - previously, expensive mainframe computers were sold only to big companies and research universities. Characteristics of disruptive businesses, at least in their initial stages, can include: lower gross margins, smaller target markets, and simpler products and services that may not appear as attractive as existing solutions whencompared against traditional performance metrics. Because these lower tiers of the market offer lower gross margins, they are unattractive to other firms moving upward in the market, creating space at the bottom of the market for new disruptive competitors to emerge.Which of the following statements is supported by the information given in the passage?a)A disruptive business is less likely to face competition in the market than a business pursuing sustaining innovations.b)Companies following innovations that are improvements of existing products do not knowingly leave market space for disruptive businesses to emerge.c)Most technological innovations can be considered disruptive innovations.d)It is likely that to produce products, disruptive businesses engage more in using old technologies in new ways than using new technologies.e)Companies typically pursuing sustaining innovations do not find disruptive products attractive since these products are typically not profitable.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice As companies tend to innovate faster than their customers’ needs evolve, most organizations eventually end up producing products or services that are actually overly sophisticated, extremely expensive, and rather complicated for many customers in their market. These innovations fall under the category of sustaining innovations, innovations that simply improve existing products. Companies pursue sustaining innovations at the higher tiers of their markets because this is what has historically helped them succeed: by charging the highest prices to their most demanding and sophisticated customers at the top of the market, companies achieve the greatest profitability. However, by doing so, companies unwittingly open the door toanother category of innovations - “disruptive innovations”. In contrast to sustaining innovations, disruptive innovations lie at the bottom of the market. They are made not only by harnessing new technologies but also by developing new business models and exploiting old technologies in new ways.An innovation that is disruptive allows a whole new population of consumers at the bottom of a market access to a product or service that was historically only accessible to consumers with a lot of money or a lot of skill. Personal computers, for instance, were disruptive innovations because they created a new mass market for computers - previously, expensive mainframe computers were sold only to big companies and research universities. Characteristics of disruptive businesses, at least in their initial stages, can include: lower gross margins, smaller target markets, and simpler products and services that may not appear as attractive as existing solutions whencompared against traditional performance metrics. Because these lower tiers of the market offer lower gross margins, they are unattractive to other firms moving upward in the market, creating space at the bottom of the market for new disruptive competitors to emerge.Which of the following statements is supported by the information given in the passage?a)A disruptive business is less likely to face competition in the market than a business pursuing sustaining innovations.b)Companies following innovations that are improvements of existing products do not knowingly leave market space for disruptive businesses to emerge.c)Most technological innovations can be considered disruptive innovations.d)It is likely that to produce products, disruptive businesses engage more in using old technologies in new ways than using new technologies.e)Companies typically pursuing sustaining innovations do not find disruptive products attractive since these products are typically not profitable.Correct answer is option 'B'. 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