What if everything you knew about strategy was wrong?
In this profound and candid episode, legendary Harvard Business School professors Joseph Bower and Clark Gilbertdismantle the myths of top-down strategy and reveal what actually drives innovation inside organizations — resource allocation.
Hosted by Aidan McCullen, this conversation connects over 50 years of organizational research with real-world disruption—from Clay Christensen's disruptive innovation, to Intel's strategic shifts, to why academic institutions resist change.
🔥 You'll learn:
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Why strategy emerges from internal decisions—not just executive planning
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The role of middle management and customer capture in strategic failure
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How organizations can manage dual transformation
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The secret behind Harvard's innovation blind spots
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Advice for innovators, executives, and scholars navigating complex systems
This is not your typical leadership podcast. It's a masterclass in innovation thinking, organizational change, and deep system insights — directly from the architects of the field.
00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message
00:21 Introducing the Guests: Clark Gilbert and Joe Bower
01:02 Clark Takes Over as Host
01:33 The Connection Between Resource Allocation and Strategy
05:26 Challenges in Strategy Implementation
09:03 Case Studies and Real-World Examples
11:11 Issues in Academic Research
19:48 The Harvard Business School Case
28:10 The Teradyne Case Study
32:41 Elon Musk's Unique Management Style
35:21 The Power of Structural Context in Education
37:50 The Concept of Undermining in Business
39:23 Managing Cognitive Framing in a Changing World
44:06 The Importance of Deep Industry Knowledge
49:16 Advice for Future Scholars
55:56 Final Reflections and Gratitude
📚 Resources and People Mentioned:
- Book: From Resource Allocation to Strategy – by Bower, Gilbert & others
- Dual Transformation – by Clark Gilbert & Scott D. Anthony
- The Innovator's Dilemma – by Clayton Christensen
- Case Studies: Intel, Teradyne, Kodak, Harvard Business School
💡 Featured Thinkers Mentioned:
- Clayton Christensen – Disruptive innovation pioneer, HBS
- Tom Eisenmann – Strategy & entrepreneurship expert, HBS
- Donald Sull – Former HBS faculty, expert on execution and volatility
- Yves Doz – INSEAD professor, known for multinational innovation research
- Howard Yu – IMD professor; explored tech disruption in Asia
- Tomo Noda – Japanese academic and innovator in business education reform
- Robert Burgelman - MIT professor and prolific author
