The Question of Imitability

Photos: Courtesy of Apple and Samsung on http://fortune.com/2015/08/16/apple-samsung-watch-imitation/

Chapter 5 talks about evaluating firm strengths and weaknesses and one of the VIRO framework questions is the question of imitability. I cannot think of a better example in todays world of imitability than Apple and its competitors.

Most people know that Apple started the smartphone phenomenon back in 2007 when they released their first iPhone. Soon after it's release their competition, Samsung, was short to follow in by making there own. Another example would be the iPad. It was not long after the reveal of the iPad that firms really started to pursue the tablet game. Apple has been imitated ever since it was founded. That just is part of the business. As you can see an example in the picture above, Samsung made a smartwatch and then when Apple made theirs, Samsung radically changed its watch to make it in design and perform more like an Apple Watch.

With billions of dollars spent on patent infringement between these two firms it doesn't look like the imitating will end anytime soon. Apple, as the front runner, will have to continue to be innovative or they will lose their competitive advantage.