Netscape, Which Once Controlled More Than 80 Percent of the Market

question 4

Multiple Choice

Netscape, which once controlled more than 80 percent of the market share in Web browsers, lost its dominant position when customers migrated to Internet Explorer, Microsoft's Web browser. Internet Explorer was easy to install and had no significant differences in terms of usability. This example serves to illustrate that:

• A) fast-following smaller firms are always ready with newer and possibly superior products.
• B) customers of technology companies are becoming increasingly savvy and more demanding.
• C) the open source nature of technology ensures that no firm can expect to monopolize a market.
• D) firms need to employ increasingly stringent intellectual property norms to guard against infringements from smaller, competitive rivals.
• E) firms with low switching costs can sometimes be rapidly overtaken by strong rivals with additional competitive advantages.

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Definitions:

Net Present Value

A method used in capital budgeting to assess the profitability of an investment by calculating the present value of expected cash flows minus the initial investment cost.

Average Rate of Return

A metric used to evaluate the profitability of an investment, calculated by dividing the average annual profit by the initial investment cost.

Capital Investment Proposals

Suggestions or plans for spending on long-term assets intended to improve a company's profitability in the future.

Cash Payback Period

The duration required for an investment to generate cash flows sufficient to recoup the initial outlay.