In this revolutionary bestseller, Harvard professor Clayton M. Christensen says outstanding companies can do everything right and still lose their ...
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Oct 07, 2007
Rod
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This is a great book on innovation and how start-up and entrepreneurs ought to fashion their company to go against entrenched incumbents.
The gist of the book is an interesting trend the author found when analyzing the industry. He found that certain innovations were "disruptive" -- meaning they changed the way a market worked, and some were "sustaining" -- meaning they were really just improvements on existing products.
The author traces disruptive inno More...
The gist of the book is an interesting trend the author found when analyzing the industry. He found that certain innovations were "disruptive" -- meaning they changed the way a market worked, and some were "sustaining" -- meaning they were really just improvements on existing products.
The author traces disruptive inno More...
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Jan 29, 2012
Ilia
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Biggest question is - how do you figure out something is a "disruptive" technology, not just a fringe/inefficient one. Only somewhat answered by the book - a lot of gut feel goes into that one I guess.
In a way, a tech is disruptive if after building a startup or division around it, you can find a segment of the market that's growing at a fast enough rate to fuel more innovation in this technology, until the new market starts to get big enough to rival the original market. O More...
In a way, a tech is disruptive if after building a startup or division around it, you can find a segment of the market that's growing at a fast enough rate to fuel more innovation in this technology, until the new market starts to get big enough to rival the original market. O More...
May 18, 2010
Glen
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Notes from Clayton Christenson, The Innovator’s Dilemma
It pays to be a leader in a disruptive innovation
• Leadership in sustaining innovations gives little advantage
• Leadership in disruptive innovation creates enormous value
But established companies typically fail in the face of disruptive change
• Companies get organized to satisfy current customer’s needs and to facilitate design and production of current products. This organization can then prevent th More...
It pays to be a leader in a disruptive innovation
• Leadership in sustaining innovations gives little advantage
• Leadership in disruptive innovation creates enormous value
But established companies typically fail in the face of disruptive change
• Companies get organized to satisfy current customer’s needs and to facilitate design and production of current products. This organization can then prevent th More...
Apr 16, 2010
Ben
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Good argument, highly redundant.
The central argument is that companies miss important new markets because they are structured to serve the needs of their most profitable customers where new 'disruptive' technologies often emerge from smaller markets who's customers needs are quite different. Eventually the smaller market catches up to the demands of the profitable customers and by that time has developed an insurmountable lead in the utility that its original customers demanded.
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The central argument is that companies miss important new markets because they are structured to serve the needs of their most profitable customers where new 'disruptive' technologies often emerge from smaller markets who's customers needs are quite different. Eventually the smaller market catches up to the demands of the profitable customers and by that time has developed an insurmountable lead in the utility that its original customers demanded.
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Jun 19, 2009
Nicholas
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Feb 24, 2011
Liam
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"Generally disruptive innovations were technologically straightforward, consisting of off-the-shelf components put together in a product architecture that was often simpler than prior approaches. They offered less of what customers in established markets wanted so they could rarely be initially employed there. They offered a different package of attributes valued only in emerging markets remote from, and unimportant to, the mainstream." (15)
"Markets that do not exist More...
"Markets that do not exist More...
Feb 09, 2010
Aneel
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Though I don't usually read business books, this one was fairly interesting. The thesis is that established, customer-focused companies are essentially helpless when confronted with a cheap, less-effective alternative. Because the interests of their customers force them to allocate resources towards maintaining and improving their current products, they can't muster the organizational will do develop and market lower-end products that don't meet their customers' needs. Christiansen points out a
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Nov 14, 2010
Reuben
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"We are all facing the dilemma of succeeding in business and being aware of disruptive innovation in one form or another.
This is a powerful book with a paradoxical premise: that the very nature of success sows the seeds of destruction.
Christensen leads with some great case studies of how 'the mighty have fallen'; not because they were doing anything wrong, but specifically because they were doing things 'right'. They were using the best management and business practice More...
This is a powerful book with a paradoxical premise: that the very nature of success sows the seeds of destruction.
Christensen leads with some great case studies of how 'the mighty have fallen'; not because they were doing anything wrong, but specifically because they were doing things 'right'. They were using the best management and business practice More...
Sep 03, 2010
Paul
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The book discusses the ideas of "sustaining technology" vs. "disruptive technology" and describes with many examples how disruptive technology advances have a very strong negative effect on large established businesses. In general I thought the argument was well laid out and informative. My only complaint is that I would have liked to hear a more balanced argument. The authors did not spend significant time looking at any counter examples to their arguments. It felt a lit
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Jun 16, 2011
Bonnie
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Well, this is a mixed bag, this interesting little book. The observations are prescient but the presentation is abominable. I'm sure for those who demand an exhaustive regurgitation of every step in an analysis, it is useful, but I felt that most of the book could have been the research appendices. On the other hand, the conclusions drawn were incisive and incredibly useful. It would have worked well if it had been presented as a research paper with a 10-page abstract. As a practitioner, I could
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May 15, 2011
Adam
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Worth the read if you're the businessy sort and like technology and want to know where the term "disruptive innovation" came from. Beware, there's a LOT of repetition of the central theory. So much so that I skipped the last chapter just in case I had to hear it again. The upside is that I may actually remember it. Besides Good to Great, this book was my foray into business school literature and it was about what I'd expected = written to influence thought amongst business leaders, not
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Jan 26, 2012
Ariadna73
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The Innovator's Dilemma shows the reader the different challenges that a person must face if they want to make a change in the system they are working with. And how for some of those who face the challenges, and stand by their thoughts and plans, results can be not only personally rewarding, but also a great hit (commercial and scientific) for the organizations they work in. It cites several examples on how different ideas were initially rejected and ended up being the heroic super-ideas that ev
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Jan 01, 2012
Craig
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Dull book with no real useful insights or examples. For all of the author's talk of disruptive change, there is little explanation of what type of change is really disruptive, and what this means to the companies and industries affected. The entire book can be summed up with the author's assertion that to really address new markets and opportunities, you needs small, separate business units or companies to lead the charge. Unfortunately the author provides little real world examples that clea
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Jul 08, 2011
Mark
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This book is a good read; the only disappointing part was that it finished too quickly; I had four more hours on the road trip.
The stat that really caught my attention was that market leaders are 6 times more likely to succeed in new markets. The window of opportunity is small for the followers.
The author uses many real world examples of how companies managed the transition into emerging technologies; not all were successfull. Exploring the false starts is helpful when ap More...
The stat that really caught my attention was that market leaders are 6 times more likely to succeed in new markets. The window of opportunity is small for the followers.
The author uses many real world examples of how companies managed the transition into emerging technologies; not all were successfull. Exploring the false starts is helpful when ap More...
Sep 21, 2010
Jack
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This was an interesting book and it was written in such a way that the conclusions were almost too obvioius. The author described two basic problems that he observed in a number of industries and successful companies. Successful companies pay attention to their customers, have a number of continuous improvement efforts and run their businesses in order to make as much money as possible. When new technologies arrive, these businesses evaluate them and incorporate them into their products if they
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Jan 03, 2009
Keith
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Classic book that explains why some new ideas, "disruptive innovation" as the author calls them---can cause great companies to fail. With this type of innovation, the exact behaviors that allow a great company to stay ahead of their competition sow the seeds of the company's fall.
I first read this book about eight years ago, when I worked for a major high-tech company. After reading The Innovator's Dilemma I could clearly see many signs that my employer was facing exactly th More...
I first read this book about eight years ago, when I worked for a major high-tech company. After reading The Innovator's Dilemma I could clearly see many signs that my employer was facing exactly th More...
May 31, 2008
Carrie
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Fascinating book that seems to have many applications for newspaper companies dealing with the disruptive innovation of the Internet; I will write more about it on the blog at www.changingnewsroom.wordpress.com
The tricky part is that newspapers have a unique dual product structure, in that our "customers" are both citizens and also advertisers who "purchase" eyeballs and credibility/trust from us...not to mention of course that unlike your average widget, newspape More...
The tricky part is that newspapers have a unique dual product structure, in that our "customers" are both citizens and also advertisers who "purchase" eyeballs and credibility/trust from us...not to mention of course that unlike your average widget, newspape More...
Dec 23, 2008
Alex
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Insight into how disruptive innovations are adopted by targeting (or, really, being discovered by) new markets that create demand even when traditional markets reject the new technology because it is inferior in one or more important qualities. Over time, the technologies improve to the point where they supplant existing technologies. Much to the chagrin of the old guard in the industry.
Lots of interesting examples though the book leans heavily on the hard drive market.
Lots of interesting examples though the book leans heavily on the hard drive market.
Nov 23, 2007
Cameron
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Brilliant book about how certain kind of innovations can unseat the best companies, no matter how well-run and resource-rich they are. Noting that geneticists study fruit flies because of how quickly they reproduce, he bases his study in disk-drive manufacturers--the fruit flies of the business world. The book details how good companies are extremely successful at responding to "sustaining" innovations that are desired by their existing customers by taking extremely risky, long-term
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Jun 28, 2010
Sean
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This is a good book for those interested in business and innovation, but I found it repetitive and at times disjointed.
Basically, disruptive technologies must be managed differently than sustaining technologies, since the former take hold in emerging markets, whereas the latter satisfy the demands of mainstream markets; i.e., spin-off new businesses or acquire businesses that service emerging markets with inferior, but typically smaller-footprint, products.
Basically, disruptive technologies must be managed differently than sustaining technologies, since the former take hold in emerging markets, whereas the latter satisfy the demands of mainstream markets; i.e., spin-off new businesses or acquire businesses that service emerging markets with inferior, but typically smaller-footprint, products.
Aug 01, 2011
Sylvia
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This is the second time that I have read this book, and it remains excellent. I recommend this book to all readers concerned with job creation and the international competitiveness of our nation. Christensen argues that there are factors innate to large successful corporations that make it virtually impossible for them to remain innovative. The very factors that make them successful make them ill-equiped to deal with or even identify disruptive innovation. Christensen goes further and makes
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Jun 06, 2008
Alec
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meh...as far as business books go this was interesting. I recently took a new job and at times I feel as if I have fallen in with the cult of clay Christensen.I picked this up as an attempt to sample the kool-aid.
The basic premise is this, as products and technology advance, there becomes greater opportunity for a start up entrant to capture share by serving an under-served segment of the market. Often these products are counter intuitive or loss leaders. These are referred to as dis More...
The basic premise is this, as products and technology advance, there becomes greater opportunity for a start up entrant to capture share by serving an under-served segment of the market. Often these products are counter intuitive or loss leaders. These are referred to as dis More...
Aug 21, 2011
Jeric
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I don't read many books, but for some reason this one was a bit of a let down especially after all the fascinating reviews. For me it read like a textbook written by an engineer. With so much business/industry vernacular as interesting and ground breaking the content may be, it was boring and a struggle to read.
I'll try again another time, maybe when I'm in a more analytical mood.
I'll try again another time, maybe when I'm in a more analytical mood.
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Oct 06, 2009
Ilya
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drives home the central point pretty well - "disruptive technologies" need to be incubated in smaller, independent organizations if the larger firms are to reap any benefits from them. the examples are pretty good, though a little dated now (it would be nice to hear a contrast of the apple newton business to the iphone). the abridged audiobook version is definitely the way to go.
Sep 19, 2009
Mike
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While it does contain good information on how to manage technological change, it is often slow and repetitive. The last two chapters provide a great summary and are really all that you would need to read from the book.
That said, the dilemma described in the book is an important one to know in a management position. It's even more important if you're working in a technical or development area.
That said, the dilemma described in the book is an important one to know in a management position. It's even more important if you're working in a technical or development area.
Dec 08, 2010
MI2
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I liked the book but I probably would have liked it better if I hadn't just read "Where Good Ideas Come From" which struck me as a deeper more thought out book.
That said, I'd recommend this as a quick read for anyone who wants a quick read about how most modern, corporate notions of creativity are complete garbage and wants to know how the creative process actually works.
That said, I'd recommend this as a quick read for anyone who wants a quick read about how most modern, corporate notions of creativity are complete garbage and wants to know how the creative process actually works.
Mar 23, 2010
Mike
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I don't usually go in for business books. But I've heard this author speak in other arenas and I enjoyed it. And this particular book was cited in some intellectual property reading I've done lately, so I decided to pick it up.
The dilema Christensen discusses is interesting, if not compelling, reading. I wonder if I wouldn't have enjoyed it more in shorter form, like a paper or article. But then I'm not in the managerial ranks this book is aimed at. I did enjoy the case studies More...
The dilema Christensen discusses is interesting, if not compelling, reading. I wonder if I wouldn't have enjoyed it more in shorter form, like a paper or article. But then I'm not in the managerial ranks this book is aimed at. I did enjoy the case studies More...
Feb 09, 2010
Rob
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This is a must-read for anyone in the high tech space, in which innovative companies turn over giants in specific markets at a ridiculous pace; months and years, not decades.
The book is very clear, easy to read, and even enjoyable, which I can't say for most business books. It is very much to the point, using several case studies to support his conclusions. I dog-eared around 20 pages in the book for future reference!
I immediately brought insight from this book back to More...
The book is very clear, easy to read, and even enjoyable, which I can't say for most business books. It is very much to the point, using several case studies to support his conclusions. I dog-eared around 20 pages in the book for future reference!
I immediately brought insight from this book back to More...
Jan 11, 2012
James
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One of the few books I would rate a 5 star out of 5. This book presents a different way companies can re-invent themselves without falling into % growth trap. While the cases focused on the disk drive industry, the approach presented could be applied in many for-profit industries. (The audiobook is ~2 hours)
Oct 01, 2011
Andrew
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Very innovative ideas presented here about the differences between sustaining and disruptive technologies and how the best companies often fail when faced by the more disruptive technologies. It is well-argued and pretty convincing but also on the repetitive side. And though the ideas have aged well, the examples found in the book (mostly from the 70s and 80s) made it seem relatively ancient. The big question of how to identify a disruptive technology in advance is addressed but I can't shake th
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