For example, I used to work in the Customer Service division of a software company. When customers purchase software, they are encouraged to purchase support agreements for a cost of 15% of the software value. The revenue from this maintenance funds the support personnel who answer telephones.
The assumptions of this situation are:
Now think about the situations as each attribute is dropped.
What happens if support is free? - Maybe the software
price should be increased and the support given away, creating
the impression of free support.
Don't support the product - Don't offer support. The
vendor doesn't have to support it, so doesn't have to employ
support staff. If anyone rings for help, tell them to buzz off!
This could lead to customers forming their own support groups
(user groups) or turning to other areas such as the Internet,
bulletin boards, newsletters, independent support specialists
and so on.
Even more assumptions could be dropped. What if the vendor gave away the software. You are most likely reading this file with Netscape Naviagor or Microsoft Explorer. Did you buy that software? How do you think Netscape makes money if most people don't pay for the browser?
More examples can be found in a document on Escape Thinking.
Send your comments to Charles Cave