Several studies have shown that pioneers have long-lived market share advantages and are likely to be market leaders in their product categories. However, that research has potential limitations: the reliance on a few established databases, the exclusion of nonsurvivors, and the use of...

Managers and entrepreneurs frequently adhere to the Motto of being the first to market. But the authors have discovered that many pioneers fail, while most current leaders are not pioneers. Using a historical method, the authors try to determine why pioneers fail and early leaders succeed. They...

A firm's ability to compete in new product markets is vital to its profitability and long-term survival. Therefore, it is important to understand the development and growth of these markets. Following a pioneering study by Bass (1969), diffusion models have traditionally provided this...

The introduction of really new products creates many dilemmas for managers. Initially, they must develop a launch strategy in the face of great uncertainty about the product's potential. After launch, they need guidance about whether to pull the plug on a new product with lackluster sales (prior...