Final answer:
Fads are products that quickly reach the decline stage in their life cycle, due to a rapid loss of consumer interest after an initial surge in popularity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that BEST describes those products that quickly arrive at the decline stage in the product life cycle is fads. Fads are characterized by their sudden surge in popularity followed by a rapid decline, often because they do not maintain long-term appeal or relevance in the market. This contrasts with prototypes, which are preliminary versions of a product; betas, which are near-complete products undergoing final testing; and protocols, which are structured guidelines.
Reflecting on the example provided by Anderson and Tushman, we can see that technological advancements often undergo evolutionary changes. Floppy disks, for instance, evolved from a first-generation technology into more sophisticated forms like Zip and Jaz disks, before eventually being replaced by even more efficient flash drives. Such a generational model emphasizes the ongoing improvement and replacement cycle that characterizes technological progress.