Question 1: Basic research is theoretical exploration that is not motivated by profit. Applied research is a practical exploration that has a profit motive. Generally, knowledge is found in the basic research phase and tested in the applied research phase. After doing the applied research it may be implemented into commercial applications.
Question 2: Market pull is an R&D method that refers to continuously developing products to reinvigorate product life cycles. This could be an offshoot of an already successful product to try and improve it. Technological push refers to sending a product out to the public without an idea of how it will be used. Generally, this would be a new product that does not have a set market.
Question 3: You need some interaction between customers and the business to keep a solid relationship. To provide quality service and understand specific needs this is a must. There is a negative consequence as it can hurt process efficiency. Some customers will not be able to navigate the system in place or could input incomplete information leading to operational failure.
Question 4: The process chain network tool shows the interaction between the customer and the business and the level of control over each stage. In a flowchart it maps out the business's domain of interactions all the way to the customers. You can divide the chart into sections and visually see what parts of the process you have more control over and what parts you don't. When mapping out the chart there are three different types of interactions direct, surrogate, and independent. For a business direct interaction will come from interacting with customers or suppliers. Surrogate means acting on supplier or customers resources. Independent comes from acting on your own resources. The more self-contained you are, the more control you will have.