Joennel M. Semilla Ms.

Rowena Garcia
BSA103 The Entrepreneurial Mind

Questions:

1. Would you consider Encyclopedia Britannica’s decision to discontinue the printing

of hardbound volumes a strategic move? Why or why not?
Yes, I consider it as a strategic move for them, because this is their way to lessen the cost
of production of it since it is not that famous and profitable than before and their customers are
getting smaller and smaller. Some tend to use different websites on the internet and some use
free encyclopedia reasons of the Encyclopedia Britannica’s small market. So, for me, it is their
way of saving the company since it is not profitable now adays because of different online
websites. On the other, if they not stop on printing hardbound copies of Encyclopedia Britannica
and still not sold this may lead on bankruptcy of the company due to the high cost of production
yet not sold because of the different alternatives online.

2. What were the disruptors that made the company arrive at this decision? Research
if necessary.
The disruptors that made the company arrived at this decision was the improvisation of
their competitors like the rise of PCs with CD ROM’s, Digital/Era Technology, Microsoft
Encarta, free-encyclopedia and the Wikipedia. Some choose this alternative because it is cheaper
and convenient to access by children and adults in just one click, we can now see different results
real-time, it is more convenient to use the websites and applications that is installed in PCs.
Resulting to the small market of Encyclopedia Britannica and this made them to decide to cease
the printing of its hardbound. They made up to this decision not just to save their company but
also to save cost of production that has never sold due to the lack of customers.
3. Do you think that people will still use Encyclopedia Britannica even if it is not in
hardbound anymore?
Yes, because this was their sources of reliable information before up to the late 20’s. so,
there is no reason for them not to use it.
 Provide points that will prove that people prefer Wikipedia and other websites over
Encyclopedia Britannica.
Aside from it is cheaper than Encyclopedia Britannica it is also more
convenient, simple and free-sometimes. Almost all people prefer the easiest way to get
information and Wikipedia and other websites provide it so, people will choose it rather than
Encyclopedia Britannica. People nowadays are also busy and have no time in searching on the
books. Although not all information from websites and Wikipedia are all reliable because anyone
can change/add information on it, still they can provide instant information that we want real-
time. But my point is due to modernization people wants instant information that they can easily
get so they would choose this internet platforms over the books of Encyclopedia Britannica.