The Innovation Show Robert Burgelman - The Inescapable Dilemmas of Organizational Adaptation
Jul 3, 2025
In this discussion, Robert Burgelman, a Professor and expert in strategic innovation, dives deep into organizational adaptation. He explains the four types of strategic context processes and their implications for businesses. Key topics include the balancing act between positional advantages and distinctive competencies, along with the challenges of multi-business companies. Burgelman also shares insights on how leaders can address dilemmas posed by technological disruptions, drawing on case studies from Intel and other industry giants to illustrate his points.
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Position vs Competence Balance
- Success needs a combination of positional advantages and distinctive competencies combined.
- Strategy is about balancing ecosystem position and internal capabilities.
Intel's DRAM Competency Trap
- Intel got trapped by focusing on their process technology skills in DRAM but lost out to Japanese competitors superior manufacturing.
- This competency trap caused Intel to lose its dominant market position in memory.
Managing Multi-Business Complexity
- Multi-business companies must manage complexity and complementarity amidst ecosystem shifts.
- Diverging business ecosystems often lead to splits, as seen in HP and others.
