JM Insights in the Classroom
Teaching Insight:
How does the introduction of new software (e.g., apps, computer software, video games) impact the sales of incumbent software? Do they help incumbent sales (halo) or hurt (cannibalization)? We find that some new entrants cause cannibalization and some cause halo, depending on the software’s characteristics (e.g., if the software is high quality or belong to a franchise).
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Related Marketing Courses:
Marketing Strategy
Full Citation:
Allen, B.J., Richard Gretz, Mark Houston, Suman Basuroy (2021), “Halo or Cannibalization? How New Software Entrants Impact Sales of Incumbent Software in Platform Markets,” Journal of Marketing.
Article Abstract:
Platform markets involve indirect network effects as two or more sides of a market interact through an intermediary platform. Many platform markets consist of both a platform device and corresponding software. In such markets, new software introductions influence incumbent software sales. New entrants may directly cannibalize incumbents. However, entrants may also create an indirect halo impact by attracting new platform adopters, who then purchase incumbent software. To measure performance holistically, this article introduces a method to quantify both indirect and direct paths and determine which effect dominates and when. The authors identify relevant moderators from the sensations–familiarity framework and conduct empirical tests with data from the video game industry (1995–2019). Results show that the direct impact often results in cannibalization which generally increases when the entrant is a superstar or part of a franchise. For the indirect halo impact, superstar entrants significantly increase platform adoption, which can help all incumbents. Combining the direct and indirect impacts, only new software that is both a superstar and part of a franchise increases platform adoption sufficiently to overcome direct cannibalization and achieve a net positive effect on incumbent software; all other types of entrants have a neutral or negative overall effect.
Special thanks to Holly Howe (Ph.D. candidate at Duke University) and Demi Oba (Ph.D. candidate at Duke University), for their support in working with authors on submissions to this program.
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