Joyce Ann Glee Villagracia

BH501P

Based on the case facts and additional research, answer the questions below: (3 items x 10 points)

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

an innovative choice? Why or why not?

Encyclopedia Britannica’s decision to discontinue printing their hardbound volume is an

innovative choice simply because they realized that their readers have changed, and they must change
as well. It was evident for some time and the company knew it all along since they have shifted to a
digital editorial process and that they even admitted that keeping the hard-bound volumes were a
distraction in their day-to-day operation. By discontinuing printing, the hardbound volumes, it freed their
activity to be more creative and concentrate on improving their products to gain more market share.

2. What were the disruptors that made the company arrive at this decision? Research if necessary.

The most evident disruptors are the internet and the availability of laptops and digital tablets.
The developments and the technological advances in the digital world made it possible to create
contents that are searchable via efficient and fast search engines like Google. The development of
Cellular devices such as PDAs and Cell Phones made it possible for instant and convenient
communication to relay ideas instantly. Texting, group meetings and presentations can now be held
virtually across the world. The unlimited amount of storage capacity in the servers provided a vast
amount of storage of current and historical information made possible by Nanotechnology in computer
chips.

3. Do you think people will still use Encyclopedia Britannica even if it is not hardbound anymore?

Provide points that prove people would prefer Encyclopedia Britannica over Wikipedia and other

websites or the other way around.

I personally don’t think that people will revert to using encyclopedias anymore because of the
following reasons:

a. Searching for key words is not easy using the encyclopedia’s glossary but the search engine
makes it possible to search everything about the subject in a click of a mouse.
b. Current information requires a new edition to be published in an Encyclopedia volume while
up-to-date information is available instantly as it happens and made possible by server
replication technology in the Cloud.
c. Vast amount of current and historical information are available in Wikepedia but are limited
in the amount of pages that an Encyclopedia can have.
d. Access to the Encyclopedia is limited only to where the volumes are located whereas,
Wikipedia can be access anywhere that has a Wi-Fi connection.