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Experimentation Strategies and Entrepreneurial Innovation: Inherited Market Differences in the iPhone Ecosystem

Author

Listed:
  • Jason P. Davis

    (INSEAD)

  • Yulia Muzyrya

    (University of Michigan)

  • Pai-Ling Yin

    (Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research)

Abstract

Although experimentation is critical to the innovation process in startups, little research has explored the link between different experimentation strategies and entrepreneurial innovation. We use unique data on experimentation strategies and innovation outcomes of firms producing iPhone applications to show that the appropriateness of different strategies depends on market characteristics. Simultaneous experimentation strategies are better suited to markets characterized by strong market inheritance, where innovative know-how, development technologies, and heterogeneous preferences from established markets can be leveraged by entrepreneurs. In markets with fewer skills, fewer developmental technologies, and less understood demand expectations, innovations are more likely to result from sequential product improvements based on customer feedback, allowing the entrepreneur to develop skills and clarify what may be singular customer preferences

Suggested Citation

  • Jason P. Davis & Yulia Muzyrya & Pai-Ling Yin, 2014. "Experimentation Strategies and Entrepreneurial Innovation: Inherited Market Differences in the iPhone Ecosystem," Discussion Papers 13-029, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:sip:dpaper:13-029
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Kummer & Patrick Schulte, 2019. "When Private Information Settles the Bill: Money and Privacy in Google’s Market for Smartphone Applications," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 65(8), pages 3470-3494, August.
    2. Kesler, Reinhold & Kummer, Michael E. & Schulte, Patrick, 2017. "Mobile applications and access to private data: The supply side of the Android ecosystem," ZEW Discussion Papers 17-075, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

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    Keywords

    Keywords: Entrepreneur; Innovation; Technology; Strategy; Mobile Apps;
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