The Innovator's Solution

In this summary you will learn

• How to solve the innovator’s dilemma of being left behind in the marketplace by disruptive, competitive innovators
• How to initiate disruptive innovations
• How to respond to disruptive innovations and keep growing

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Why you should read The Innovator's Solution

The dilemma for top-ranking companies is that by doing all of the things that lead to success, they may doom themselves to failure. Disruptive innovations typically debut at the low end of the market or among nonusers, as unprofitable, unpromising and crude products, in comparison to the mainstream standards. Then, established companies make the understandable mistake of ignoring them, only to be overtaken from below. Author Clayton M. Christensen’s previous classic, The Innovator’s Dilemma, identified this problem. This subsequent book offers a solution by helping managers identify potentially disruptive innovations, correctly read the market and the competitive environment, and develop a response. This book is not quite as innovative or provocative as its predecessor, but it is a valuable extension of Christensen’s theory. If you want to know what your company can do about this serious competitive problem, getAbstract.com recommends this solid follow-up.

About the Authors

Clayton M. Christensen is Harvard Business School’s Robert and Jane Cizik Professor of Business Administration. He holds joint appointments in Technology, Operations Management and General Management. Michael E. Raynor is a director at Deloitte Research. Both authors hold doctorates in business administration.