Three Things: What Is Disruptive Innovation?

Recent years have seen numerous iconic, successful companies disrupted by innovation: Kodak, Blackberry and Blockbuster, for example. But disruption has been a way of life for generations, as new technologies and companies redefine markets and deliver value in new ways. Taking these lessons of history, we can see that disruptions tend to follow similar patterns, which — if we understand them — can increase our chances of being successful, innovative disruptors, rather than those who are disrupted.

In this Three Things video, Darden Professor Michael Lenox discusses three classic patterns of disruption.

Three Things is a Darden School of Business video series designed to offer tips to help you and your business succeed.

About the Expert

Michael Lenox

Special Adviser for the Dean; Tayloe Murphy Professor of Business Administration

Lenox’s expertise is in the domain of technology strategy and policy. He studies the role of innovation in helping a business succeed. In particular, he explores the sourcing of external knowledge by firms and this practice’s impact on a company’s innovation strategy. Lenox has a longstanding interest in the interface between business strategy and public policy as it relates to the natural environment; his work explores firm strategies and nontraditional public policies that have the potential to drive green innovation and entrepreneurship.

In 2013, Lenox co-authored The Strategist’s Toolkit with Darden Professor Jared Harris. His latest book,

Lenox is a prolific author; his most recent book, Strategy in the Digital Age: Mastering Digital Transformation, examines how digital technologies and services enable the creation of innovative products and services, as well as identifying new competitive positions.

B.S., M.S., University of Virginia; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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