Slippery Slopes
In order to clarify some defining factors of business success in the information age, this chapter presents two known failures. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. successfully marketed a reputable product, but certain flaws in the company’s structure and process led to a decision to protect its print product rather than make a shift to digital media, with irreversible results. Among newspapers, the San Jose Mercury News seemed ideally positioned to make a successful transition to the Internet age. Yet it was impossible to do so without the cooperation of other major newspapers, which it was unable to obtain. This example evinces the rise of a new and widespread paradigm in which users expect content without cost, which has proved especially challenging for newspapers. However, several publications, including The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and The New York Times, have adopted new business models that may lead to sustainability.