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How Useful Is the Theory of Disruptive Innovation?

September 15, 2015 | Andrew A. King, Baljir Baatartogtokh | Strategy

Clayton M. Christensen's theory of disruptive innovation has been very influential. But how well does the theory describe what happens in business? The authors of this article surveyed industry experts for each of 77 case examples of disruptive innovation found in two of Christensen's seminal books. The results suggest that many of the cases do not correspond closely with four elements of the theory of disruptive innovation — and the theory may not fit as many situations as is often assumed.

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