Final answer:
The time from initial research and development to the time that support to the customer ends is the product life cycle option (a).
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to this question is a. product life cycle. The product life cycle refers to the stages that a product goes through from its initial development to its decline and removal from the market. This cycle includes research and development, introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. During the product life cycle, the company provides support and addresses customer needs until the product reaches its end.
For example, let's consider the life cycle of a smartphone. The company starts with research and development to create the phone, then introduces it to the market. As the phone gains popularity, it enters the growth stage where sales increase. Eventually, the market becomes saturated, and the phone reaches the maturity stage. Finally, as new technology emerges, the phone declines in popularity, and support from the company ends.