How Useful Is the Theory of Disruptive Innovation?

In his 1997 book, The Innovator’s Dilemma, Harvard Business School professor Clayton M. Christensen provided an explanation for the failure of respected and well-managed companies.

Christensen, who is now considered one of the world’s leading experts on innovation and growth, argued that good managers face a dilemma because by doing the very things they need to do to succeed — listen to customers, invest in the business, and build distinctive capabilities — they run the risk of ignoring rivals with “disruptive” innovations.