Revisiting the Theory of Disruptive Innovation with Karen Dillon
Jul 31, 2020
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Former editor of Harvard Business Review, Karen Dillon, discusses the theory of disruptive innovation and the influence of Clayton Christensen. They explore the behavior of established companies when faced with competition, the concept of jobs to be done theory, and the potential for progress and important innovations in difficult times. Karen also emphasizes the importance of relationships in wellness.
Disruption in business can encompass a wide range of concepts, but the theory of disruptive innovation by Clayton Christensen provides a useful lens to understand and navigate the challenges and opportunities.
Established companies often struggle to embrace disruptive ideas and walk away from their profitable business models, which can hinder their ability to successfully navigate disruption and capitalize on new opportunities.
Deep dives
Karen Dillon's Career Journey as a Writer and Editor
Karen Dillon's career journey began as an undergraduate English major at Cornell University. Unsure about her future path, she applied to journalism school as a temporary stopgap and discovered her passion for writing and editing while attending the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She started her career at the American Lawyer, a trade publication for law firms, where she gained valuable experience and realized her interest in business. She then moved on to Inc. magazine, focusing on entrepreneurs' stories, and eventually became the editor of Harvard Business Review.
Karen Dillon's Fascination with Business and Innovation
Karen Dillon's love for business stems from her fascination with the stories of entrepreneurs and innovators. She finds people who have ideas, passion, and willingness to take risks and create something from nothing incredibly interesting. The combination of ideas and energized individuals can lead to tremendous value creation, job opportunities, and a positive version of capitalism. Karen believes that business offers opportunities to solve problems, innovate, and make a meaningful impact on people's lives.
Karen Dillon's Collaboration with Clayton Christensen
Karen Dillon had the privilege of collaborating with Clayton Christensen, a renowned thought leader and professor, which she considers one of the greatest gifts of her life. Their partnership began when Karen approached Clayton for an article in Harvard Business Review. Their collaboration resulted in the creation of the widely acclaimed article, 'How Will You Measure Your Life?' This success led them to work together on three books, including 'The Prosperity Paradox' and 'Competing Against Luck,' where they explored various business theories and principles, such as disruptive innovation.
The Theory of Disruptive Innovation and its Challenges
The theory of disruptive innovation, famously developed by Clayton Christensen, predicts the behavior of established companies when faced with competition from upstart companies. Incumbent companies tend to protect their existing profitable products and services, often disregarding the lower end of the market. However, it is challenging for established companies to walk away from their profitable business models and invest in disruptive ideas that may initially seem unprofitable. This resistance to change and risk can lead to missed opportunities for companies to navigate disruption successfully.
Today the term "disruption" is commonly used in business to signal a wide range of disparate concepts - from new business initiatives to an individual or team pursuing seemingly innovative strategies. The concept of disruption comes from Clayton Christensen's theory of disruptive innovation, which he explored in his first book, "The Innovators Dilemma" in 1997. On this episode of the Cohere podcast my guest is Karen Dillon, former editor of Harvard Business Review and a coauthor of three books with Clayton Christensen, including the New York Times best-seller "How Will You Measure Your Life?" All three books extended the theory of disruptive innovation and explored various contexts in which the theory could be a useful lens. In our conversation, Karen shares her experiences editing both Inc. and Harvard Business Review, how she met and began collaborating with Clayton Christensen, and how she continues to carry their work forward today.
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