The Long Tail (iimt Executive MBA & Diploma Papers)

The concept of “Long Tail” first appeared in 2006 in an article of the Wired Magazine by Chris Anderson. Basically Anderson argued that the future of business is selling less of more. Hence he predicts the end and the death of the classic hit or blockbuster we all know.
This could radically reshape culture and commerce, as we know it. One of the main motors of this change is the Internet that transforms our “old world” to a new world with limitless choice provided to users and consumers.
It’s about the economics of abundance with an unlimited selection. What happens when the combined value of items that may sell only a few copies exceeds the value of the few items (hits) that sell millions each?
In this paper I will try to address the following problems:
• What is the Long Tail Phenomenon?
• How can it be defined?
• What types of different of definitions can be found?
• What has already been written about
• What are the Economics of the Long Tail?
After having addressed these problems I shall come up with the following expected results:
• The Long Tail exists and it can be found in many different forms
• It can be applied to a variety of culture and commerce
• The Internet is one of the key drivers for this phenomenon
This work aims to clarify research possibilities on long tail and should result in a research concept and empirically testable hypothesis.