Big-Bang Disruption

Business & Finance, Management & Leadership, Management
Cover of the book Big-Bang Disruption by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes, Harvard Business Review Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes ISBN: 9781625275059
Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press Publication: January 7, 2014
Imprint: Harvard Business Review Press Language: English
Author: Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
ISBN: 9781625275059
Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press
Publication: January 7, 2014
Imprint: Harvard Business Review Press
Language: English

In recent years a new-disquieting-form of disruptive innovation has emerged, one that beats incumbents on both price and quality right from the start and quickly sweeps through every customer segment. This kind of “big bang” disruption can devastate entire product lines virtually overnight. Look at the effect that free navigation apps, preloaded on smartphones, had on the market for devices made by TomTom, Garmin, and Magellan.

Big-bang disruptions often come out of the blue from people who aren’t your traditional competitors. Frequently, they’re developed by inventors who are just doing low-cost experiments with existing technologies to see what new products they can dream up. Once launched, these innovations don’t adhere to conventional strategic paths or normal patterns of market adoption. That makes them incredibly hard to combat.

Though technology- and information-intensive firms are most vulnerable to big bangs, mature industries face this threat, too. Credit cards, automobiles, and education, for instance, are all experiencing early warning signs. But in every industry, big-bang disruption will be keeping executives in a cold sweat for a long time to come.

This article, which originally appeared in Harvard Business Review, offers some strategic principles to help businesses survive big bangs.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

In recent years a new-disquieting-form of disruptive innovation has emerged, one that beats incumbents on both price and quality right from the start and quickly sweeps through every customer segment. This kind of “big bang” disruption can devastate entire product lines virtually overnight. Look at the effect that free navigation apps, preloaded on smartphones, had on the market for devices made by TomTom, Garmin, and Magellan.

Big-bang disruptions often come out of the blue from people who aren’t your traditional competitors. Frequently, they’re developed by inventors who are just doing low-cost experiments with existing technologies to see what new products they can dream up. Once launched, these innovations don’t adhere to conventional strategic paths or normal patterns of market adoption. That makes them incredibly hard to combat.

Though technology- and information-intensive firms are most vulnerable to big bangs, mature industries face this threat, too. Credit cards, automobiles, and education, for instance, are all experiencing early warning signs. But in every industry, big-bang disruption will be keeping executives in a cold sweat for a long time to come.

This article, which originally appeared in Harvard Business Review, offers some strategic principles to help businesses survive big bangs.

More books from Harvard Business Review Press

Cover of the book On Time and On Budget: Project Management Collection (4 Books) by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
Cover of the book HBR's 10 Must Reads 2015 by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
Cover of the book HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations (HBR Guide Series) by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
Cover of the book Green Recovery by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
Cover of the book IT Savvy by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
Cover of the book Bad Leadership by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
Cover of the book Playing to Win by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
Cover of the book HBR's 10 Must Reads on Mental Toughness (with bonus interview "Post-Traumatic Growth and Building Resilience" with Martin Seligman) (HBR's 10 Must Reads) by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
Cover of the book HBR Guide to Being More Productive (HBR Guide Series) by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
Cover of the book Leading Transformation by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
Cover of the book HBR Guide to Making Every Meeting Matter (HBR Guide Series) by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
Cover of the book Difficult Conversations (HBR 20-Minute Manager Series) by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
Cover of the book Off-Ramps and On-Ramps by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
Cover of the book The Man Who Sold America by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
Cover of the book HBR's 10 Must Reads on Leadership for Healthcare (with bonus article by Thomas H. Lee, MD, and Toby Cosgrove, MD) by Larry Downes, Paul F. Nunes
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy