The Innovator's Dilemma
In his book, The Innovator's Dilemma [3], Professor Clayton Christensen of Harvard Business School describes a theory about how large, outstanding firms can fail "by doing everything right." The Innovator's Dilemma, according to Christensen, describes companies whose successes and capabilities can actually become obstacles in the face of changing markets and technologies.
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Harvard professor Clayton Christensen studies the disk drive, mechanical excavator, and discount retail industries to ask why excellent companies, listening to their best customers, lose to smaller entrants with worse products. He builds a model of disruptive innovation for leaders to answer.
The Innovator's Dilemma is Clayton Christensen's 1997 framework for why successful companies often fail when faced with disruptive innovation. The disruptive innovation theory has become foundational in business strategy circles.
Yes. Despite being published over 25 years ago, The Innovator's Dilemma remains widely cited and taught. The disruptive innovation framework has been challenged by some scholars but remains influential in tech and startup contexts.
The Innovator's Dilemma was written by Clayton Christensen, published in 1997 by Collins.
The Innovator's Dilemma is 286 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, The Innovator's Dilemma takes most readers 4 to 6 hours to finish.
The Innovator's Dilemma is a standalone novel by Clayton Christensen, not part of a series.
The Innovator's Dilemma is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.