https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-perfectly-imperfect-start-of-disruptive-innovations/ by Scott D. Anthony July 30, 2024
Key Takeaway
Disruptive innovations often start in niche markets where their imperfections are acceptable, allowing them to improve and eventually disrupt mainstream markets.
Summary
- The article discusses Clayton Christensen’s concept of disruptive innovation versus the dictionary definition of disruption
- Christensen-style disruption (CSD) makes complicated things simple and expensive things affordable, with massive growth potential
- CSDs typically start by serving customers who find the innovation “perfectly imperfect” for their needs
- The transistor is used as a classic example of a CSD:
- Originally developed to replace vacuum tubes in communications networks
- Early transistors were imperfect and sensitive to environmental conditions
- Found initial success in hearing aids, a small market where its benefits outweighed its drawbacks
- Enabled smaller, cheaper hearing aids with lower power consumption
- Expanded to portable radios and eventually revolutionized electronics
- The best innovations often sound like bad ideas at first but find a niche where they can improve and grow
- The article uses cultivated meat as a potential disruptive innovation to illustrate the concept
- Key factors for disruptive success:
- Finding a perfectly imperfect foothold
- Developing a business model challenging for incumbents to respond to
- Continuously improving the product or service
Link Analysis
The most important URL from this article is the article itself:
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-perfectly-imperfect-start-of-disruptive-innovations/
