Final answer:
The pursuit of a monopoly position can hinder leading firms in adapting to new market conditions or technological advances, potentially leading to their failure. Companies must navigate between the advantages of being large and the agility of smaller firms in the face of evolving technologies and consumer tastes, maintaining a focus on adaptability and innovation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The popular management dogma that creates a dilemma for many leading companies and can paradoxically result in their failure when technologies or markets change is the pursuit of a monopoly. Firms that focus on maintaining a monopolistic position may fail to adapt to new technologies or changes in consumer preferences, leading to their eventual downfall. As technologies evolve, the battle between forces of smallness and largeness intensifies.
Notable examples include Microsoft in the software industry and Amazon in online bookselling. This ongoing dynamic makes adaptability a crucial asset for companies aiming to remain competitive in fluctuating markets. In market economies, this cycle of success and failure is normal, as companies battle with factors like old technology, poor management decisions, shifting consumer tastes, and fierce competition.