What the Zune Case Study Teaches Us

To no one's surprise, except perhaps their own, Microsoft announced the demise of it's much maligned iPod competitor MP3 player, the Zune. Almost since it was unveiled, the Zune has struggled for traction against Apple's earlier and defining entrant into this sector.

So, how does this happen? How does a successful company like Microsoft, populated by presumably smart people, build a product that, really, no one wants? Or, more to the point, why does it enter a category where there is already a "killer app," and do so with a product that is less-than-revolutionary?

There is a lesson here for independent and international schools: avoid "me-too" products unless they are necessary table stakes (things that every school should have just to be in the game), or you have such a revolutionary twist that your version has a legitimate shot at redefining the category structure. Anything else means failure.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad on the road in Los Angeles.