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Prakasan Kappoth

Commentary by Prakasan Kappoth

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September 24, 2009
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Introducing Contradictions in Businesses - Is That a Conscious Strategy?

A car that is capable of reaching half the speed of a jet cruising at 30K ft... So, we have the world's first fastest production car, Aero costing over half a million dollar available in the Indian market. (My average speed of driving here is 14 kmh and on highway at 55kmph). This recent news here in India tempted me to check out some of the fatest car available and found not just this one, but this entire list.

What is intriguing me is the thinking behind a company manufacturing and the customers buying the fastest car; why would someone buy a car with a speed which normally can be driven only at the Nevada desert or in the Wind tunnel for a "function" (Speed @ 254 mph) they can't normally achieve on the public road other than the initial 0-60 seconds?

I can't force myself to think that any auto company for that matter could have ignored the fact about the road condition, speed limit (legal requirements anywhere in the world, except probably on the Autobahn in Europe), before commercializing. I agree that several of them are iconic brands, and are made to order, and there are customers ready to wait for 6 months after writing a check of this amount.

My question here is, are companies consciously introducing contradictions for some benefit? If yes, what are the benefits? How do company sustain by introducing a contradiction, not the solution?

To make my point little clear, here is a possible contradiction in this particular situation.

- A car that can run at 254mph Vs Road condition to accommodate that speed, legal requirements for driving at this speed

My interpretation on TRIZ terms

- Speed Vs Ease of operations/object affected harmful

What are your thoughts?


Comments [3] | Permalink
Categories: Buzz/Press, Strategy

COMMENTARY COMMENT
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posted by  Ellen Domb  [ http://www.trizpqrgroup.com ] September 24, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Yes, I'm sure it is intentional. It is a well-known method of getting attention, especially in advertising, to make a contradiction visible, then make it even more dramatic, then (of course) have the product you are selling solve the problem. This is the same as the discussion going on this week on TRIZIndia showing how everything from religious myths to Bollywood movies uses the mechanism of creating conflict, intensifying conflict, then resolving conflict as the core structure of drama.

Now a good question is WHY people are so attracted to this structure?

Sorry, I don't think that invention of roads that can manage high-speed cars is going to be the solution.
 


posted by  Mark Barkan September 25, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Hi, y'all!

Conflicts sell, just look at the movies and news papers. You have to solve a conflict or overcome an adversity of sort to make a hero status. These days people demand more and more excitement to hit raw nerve. Don't take me wrong, this is not criticism - just stating the fact. 30 years ago today's PG rated movie would not make an R rating. And speaking of cars - a 250 miles per hour car is not as much of a contradiction as a 4-wheel drive SUV for a city dweller. People in marketing know exactly how to generate sales by instilling new fashion into unsuspecting consumer. TRIZ is about satisfying needs, marketing is about creating wants. Most of things we "want" today we don't truly need.
 


posted by  Prakash  [ http://trizindia.org ] October 1, 2009 at 4:48 am
Thanks, Ellen & Mark for your comments.

Introducing contradictions and solutions for solving problem are certainly the intentions for businesses. However, for some it is simply selling the conflicts as Mark mentioned, without necessarily giving a solution, but an opportunity for someone else to offer solutions. For example, the high speed cars, someone outside could perhaps generate some money by offering a "race-road" for these high speed cars and make money.
 

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