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Clayton Christensen, a Harvard Business School professor and renowned innovation expert, has been credited with coining the term “disruptive innovation.” This concept refers to a new technology or business model that disrupts an existing market and creates a new one. Christensen’s work has helped shape how we understand innovation and has impacted the business world.
One of Christensen’s most influential books, “The Innovator’s Dilemma,” was published in 1997 and has since become a classic in business strategy. In the book, Christensen argues that established companies are often too focused on maintaining their existing business models and optimizing their existing technologies, leading to complacency and preventing them from adapting to new disruptive innovations. He argues that companies need to be proactive in identifying and embracing disruptive innovations to stay competitive in the long term.
Another key concept that Christensen has introduced is the “jobs to be done” framework. This framework argues that people don’t just buy products or services; they “hire” them to do a job. For example, someone might “hire” a drill to make a hole in their wall, but they really want a way to hang a picture. Understanding the “job to be done” can help companies to identify new opportunities for innovation and create products and services that better meet the needs of their customers.
Christensen has also written about the importance of “modular innovation.” This refers to breaking down complex products or services into smaller, more manageable pieces that can be developed and improved separately. This can help companies to iterate more quickly and bring innovations to market faster.
Despite his numerous contributions to innovation, Christensen is not without his critics. Some argue that his theories are too focused on technology-driven disruption and neglect other important factors, such as regulation and social norms. However, his work remains highly influential, shaping how we think about innovation and disruption.