Terra Lycos: Profiting from Information Products

Published 01 May 2003
Reference 5108
Topic Operations
Industry E-Commerce
Region Global
Length 14 page(s)
Summary

The case discusses how Terra Lycos is reshaping itself during the economic slowdown by diversifying its revenue stream and attempting to start selling products once offered for free. As a portal, Terra Lycos' products were, by nature, mainly information based. Can Terra Lycos succeed in transforming its products from free to pay? This case can be used for MBA and executive education programmes to discuss key ideas on information economics and strategies for information products. This can be part of a class on managing IT, e-commerce, or strategy in the information economy. The case is also suitable for a session in an economics class on versioning and dynamic pricing, and for classes on media and/or portals.

Teaching objectives

This case can be used for MBA and Executive Education programs to discuss key ideas on information economics and strategies for information products. This can be part of a class on managing IT, e-commerce, or strategy in the information economy. The case is also suitable for a session in an economics class on versioning and dynamic pricing, and for classes on media and/or portals.

Keywords
  • Information products
  • Information economy
  • Versioning
  • Customer relationship management
  • Portals
  • Media
  • Dynamic pricing. AR2003
  • AR0203
  • RD0503