The Innovator’s Dilemma

Book summary

Clayton M. Christensen (1952–2020) was a professor at Harvard Business School and one of the foremost management researchers in the world. He wrote numerous books and more than a hundred articles. The Economist named his book The Innovator’s Dilemma as one of the six most important business books ever.

Finding oneself ensnared in the innovator's dilemma is indeed a daunting predicament. As for escaping this conundrum, it's too early to draw any conclusions about Gillette – time will tell whether their foray into direct delivery through a subscription model will be a strong enough defense against market rivals. The essence of Christensen's "The Innovator's Dilemma" isn't so much about plotting an escape but urging managers to sidestep the snare from the beginning. Paul Steinberg, Motorola Solutions’ Chief Technology Officer, recounts his initial sense of dread upon grappling with Christensen's insights that businesses are at a crossroads: they must either foster innovation or risk obsolescence. And he was not alone in this sentiment. Perhaps Christensen's most profound influence is instilling in business leaders the recognition that embracing fear might just pave the path to triumph.

To read rest of the book, you can download Bitely