Strategy and Technology: Format Wars, First Movers & Killer Apps

24/07/2025 1h 28min
Strategy and Technology: Format Wars, First Movers & Killer Apps

Listen "Strategy and Technology: Format Wars, First Movers & Killer Apps"

Episode Synopsis

In this video, Dr. Claude Kershner IV explores how strategic thinking drives success in high-tech industries — from the rise of killer applications and dominant platforms to the risks and rewards of being a first mover.

Drawing from real-world examples like Tesla, Netflix, Amazon, and WeChat, we unpack how companies create value through technical standards, network effects, and disruptive innovation. You’ll also hear timely insights on the current debate around AI and the future of jobs: is artificial intelligence creating opportunity, or displacing workers at scale?

Core topics covered include:
• What makes a killer application — and how it shapes platform dominance
• How companies win format wars and lock in standards
• First-mover advantages (and why some pioneers fail)
• Cost structures in tech: high fixed, low marginal
• The Steve Blank model of experimentation and bootcamps
• Organizational ambidexterity: how firms balance innovation and execution
• AI’s impact on jobs in the U.S. — losses, gains, and the future of work

This content is ideal for entrepreneurs, strategists, students of business and technology, or anyone looking to better understand how innovation and competitive advantage are built in today’s digital economy.

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