Throughout this course, we have discussed various business models and looked at examples of companies that experienced explosive growth. We have learned about Palo Alto Networks and Appthority through the interviews with Chad Kinzelberg and Domingo Guerra. In this case analysis assignment, you will examine how Palo Alto Networks and Appthority fit into our framework of explosive business models, and how they might fit together.
For your case analysis, write a short paper in which you answer each of the questions listed below. You will need to apply what you have learned so far in this course to analyze where the companies are now and what paths they might take in the future as they continue to grow.
In order to complete this assignment, make sure that you have first completed all of this module's readings and viewed the entire interviews with Chad Kinzelberg and Domingo Guerra.
1. In what ways do Palo Alto Networks and Appthority fit the profile of a Big Idea?
2. Sketch Palo Alto Networks’ and Appthority business models using our framework. How are they similar and how do they differ?
3. Why did Palo Alto Networks’ move into the end-user security market as growth in the firm’s core enterprise network security business normalized?
4. Might Appthority have been a good candidate for Palo Alto Networks to acquire? Explain your thinking. Who actually acquired Appthority in November 2018?