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What do the Honda Supercub, Intel's 8088 processor, and hydraulic
excavators have in common? They are all examples of disruptive
technologies that helped to redefine the competitive landscape
of their respective markets. These products did not come
about as the result of successful companies carrying out
sound business practices in established markets. In The
Innovator's Dilemma, author Clayton M. Christensen shows
how these and other products cut into the low end of the
marketplace and eventually evolved to displace high-end
competitors and their reigning technologies.
At the heart of The
Innovator's Dilemma is how a successful company with established products
keeps from being pushed aside by newer, cheaper products that will, over time,
get better and become a serious threat. Christensen writes that even the best-managed
companies, in spite of their attention to customers and continual investment in
new technology, are susceptible to failure no matter what the industry, be it
hard drives or consumer retailing. Succinct and clearly written, The Innovator's
Dilemma is an important book that belongs on every manager's bookshelf. Highly
recommended. --Harry C. Edwards |
