Skip to content

Art Quote by Clayton Christensen

“Every disruptive innovation is powered by a simplifying technology, and then the technology has to get embedded in a different kind of a business model. The first two decades of digital computing were characterized by the huge mainframe computers that filled a whole room, and they had to be…” quote by Clayton Christensen
Download Open image
“Every disruptive innovation is powered by a simplifying technology, and then the technology has to get embedded in a different kind of a business model. The first two decades of digital computing were characterized by the huge mainframe computers that filled a whole room, and they had to be operated by PhD Computer Scientists. It took the engineers at IBM about four years to design these mainframe computers because there were no rules. It was an intuitive art and just by trial and error and experimentation they would evolve to a computer that worked.”

Clayton Christensen

About This Quote

Source Book: The Innovator's Dilemma, 1997

Disruptive innovation starts with a simplifying tech, then requires a new business model to embed it.

In simple terms: New tech needs new models to succeed.

Key Takeaway

Align tech with innovative models.

Themes

innovation technology business models

Mood

analytical strategic

Type

business educational

When to use this quote

  • startup strategy
  • corporate transformation

Key Concepts

disruption strategic alignment

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can firms adapt quickly?
  • What barriers hinder model shifts?
A Different Perspective

Changing models can be slow and risky.

3.9 out of 5 (7 ratings)

More by Clayton Christensen

Explore all 166 Clayton Christensen quotes

More Art quotes

Browse all 48,652 Art quotes