Overview of the book "The innovator's dilemma"

For the first time the book "The innovator's dilemma" was published twenty years ago, in 1997. The very rare case when time does not matter. The book is still relevant, and the principles outlined by the author are working now.

He is looking for an answer to the question of why strong, best companies lose their leading positions in the market. Detail describes the essence of "subversive" innovations and explains how they affect the business.

A little about the author

Professor of business administration, teacher, business consultant - with such luggage Christensen can easily write books about business, management and efficiency. However, his education and business experience inspire confidence that this author can be trusted.

Clayton graduated from Brigham Young University, where he studied philosophy, then two years as a missionary in the Republic of Korea. He studied economics at Oxford University and in 1979 received an MBA degree with a high degree of distinction at the Harvard Business School.

Christensen worked as a consultant and project manager at Boston Consulting Group. He continued his career in the White House, as an assistant to the Minister of Transport. One of the founders of CPS Technologies, he served as president and general manager. Left the company to get a doctorate.

Christensen returned to Harvard, where in 1992 he defended his doctorate, and six years later, established a kind of "record", having received the title of professor.

Now, Christensen has eight honorary doctorates and an honorary title of professor at National Tsinghua University. The author of ten books, he is one of the best-selling authors of books on business.

Why is the book worth reading?

In The Innovator's Dilemma, Clayton Christensen reveals the fine line between "subversive" and supportive technologies. Available and explains in detail the problems that lie behind innovation. Based on the example of recent market leaders, he talks about the reasons for the failures of the latter when entering a new market or trying to apply new technologies.

The author analyzes the causes of the ruin and failures of companies. He talks about the correct, correct handling of subversive technologies that will lead to success and development. This is another value of the book "The innovator's dilemma." Clayton Christensen, with extensive experience in business administration, shares it with readers and explains the failures of various companies in the management organization.

Actually a dilemma

To give depth to these concepts, to reveal their usefulness for application, Christensen "The Innovator's Dilemma" was divided into two parts. Preliminary general conclusions, he begins the book with in-depth analysis.

In the first part of the book describes the overall scheme of failure, which explains why the right decisions of the most talented managers can still lead to the collapse of the company. Christensen details the problem of innovation.

The first two chapters restore in detail the history of the hard drive industry. This branch is an ideal testing ground for learning failures, as it is well known about it, and it has a "fast history". Entire market sectors arose and developed literally in a few years, but also quickly and withered.

The third and fourth chapters explain in detail why the leading companies lost their lead in the production of hard disks again and again. The author tells about the factors contributing to this fall. And by the end of the first part of a clear scheme of their failure.

Principles of "subversive" technologies

In the second part of the book "The innovator's dilemma" - from the fifth to the tenth chapter - the author tries to substantiate five laws of "subversive" technologies. These principles are so strong that managers who ignore them or, on the contrary, try to deal with them, will not be able to lead the company confidently through the storm caused by "subversive" technologies.

Here the author explains how much success they will achieve if they understand and begin to use these principles. Christensen writes that it is very important to understand the essence of the problem, and not to look for its recipe. The book will help to find the best solution in the circumstances. But it is very important to understand how they formed, on which they depend and whether these decisions will turn out to be correct.

At the end of the second part, all these laws are given and how the managers can apply them in their situation or adapt to it.

Readers' comments

When reading the book "The innovator's dilemma", examples of "subversive" innovations from life involuntarily come to mind. In general, it shows that there is nothing eternal - everything is changing rapidly, especially in the field of digital technologies, and it is very difficult to predict the demand in the consumer market. Namely, it ensures the successful existence of the company and its development.

In the final analysis, everything depends on the consumer. And what his preferences will be tomorrow, no one knows, actually this is the "innovator's dilemma". Readers' testimonials confirm that the principles given in the book are applicable in virtually any industry. Here you can find answers to questions about why the business is breaking up and what to do to be among the winners.

With the advent of the Internet, new "subversive" technologies have emerged in various areas, so the described book is now more relevant than ever.