--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Incrementalism in technology leads to…" description: "\"Incrementalism in technology leads to irrelevance; what you need is revolutionary change.\" — Ruth Porat" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/ruth-porat-17409_change_incrementalism-in-technology-leads-to-ir_22405.jpg" --- # Incrementalism in technology leads to irrelevance; what… ![“Incrementalism in technology leads to irrelevance; what you need is revolutionary change.” quote by Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/ruth-porat-17409_change_incrementalism-in-technology-leads-to-ir_22405.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/ruth-porat-17409_change_incrementalism-in-technology-leads-to-ir_22405.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/ruth-porat-17409_change_incrementalism-in-technology-leads-to-ir_22405.jpg) > “Incrementalism in technology leads to irrelevance; what you need is revolutionary change.” [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gradual tech improvements become obsolete; only disruptive breakthroughs sustain relevance. **In simple terms:** Small tech steps risk obsolescence; big leaps matter. Key Takeaway Revolutionary change is essential for lasting impact. Themes Innovation Disruption Technology Evolution Strategic Planning Change Management Mood Urgent Visionary Critical Type Strategic Motivational When to use this quote - Tech startups seeking market leadership - Established firms facing declining relevance - R&D teams planning product roadmaps - Investors evaluating future growth - Policy makers shaping tech regulations Key Concepts Incrementalism Revolutionary Change Obsolescence Competitive Advantage Practical Applications - Developing breakthrough products - Adopting disruptive business models Questions to Reflect On - What risks does incrementalism pose to long‑term success? - How can organizations balance incremental improvements with the need for radical innovation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Irrelevance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrelevance/) [Revolutionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutionary/) [Revolutionary change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutionary-change/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [Especially in technology, we need revolutionary change, not incremental change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-page/especially-in-technology-we-need-revolutionary-change-not-incremental/) [Larry Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-page/) > [“You said yourself that the people of Luna need a revolutionary.” She lifted her chin, holding his gaze. “So I’m going to Luna, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/you-said-yourself-that-the-people-of-luna-need-a-revolutionary-she/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“The people of Luna don’t need a princess. They need a revolutionary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/the-people-of-luna-don-t-need-a-princess-they-need-a-revolutionary/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [We're in a period of revolutionary change. I'm optimistic. One's self changes, and then the world changes. It's going to begin internally, not externally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-esquivel/we-re-in-a-period-of-revolutionary-change-i-m-optimistic-one-s-self/) [Laura Esquivel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-esquivel/) > [Education is the silver bullet. Education is everything. We don't need little changes, we need gigantic, monumental changes. Schools should be palaces. The competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/education-is-the-silver-bullet-education-is-everything-we-don-t-need/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [For the greatest revolutionary changes on this earth would not have been thinkable if their motive force, instead of fanatical, yes, hysterical passion, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/for-the-greatest-revolutionary-changes-on-this-earth-would-not-have/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [My fear is that we will mistake the brand, the "resistance," for greater unity than actually exists and wind up settling for any Democrat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/my-fear-is-that-we-will-mistake-the-brand-the-resistance-for-greater/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [The second coming of Christ will be so revolutionary that it will change every aspect of life on this planet. 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The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/but-what-do-we-mean-by-the-american-revolution-do-we-mean-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The true focus of revolutionary change is never merely the oppressive situations that we seek to escape, but that piece of the oppressor which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/the-true-focus-of-revolutionary-change-is-never-merely-the-oppressive/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [I have a great respect for incremental improvement, and I've done that sort of thing in my life, but I've always been attracted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-have-a-great-respect-for-incremental-improvement-and-i-ve-done-that/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I believe a lot in gangsta rap, I see in it a lot of positive things as it is. 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The matter of taxes -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-arthur/those-of-us-who-understand-human-history-know-the-role-taxation-has/) [Owen Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-arthur/) ## More by Ruth Porat > [I'm delighted to be returning to my California roots and joining Google.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/i-m-delighted-to-be-returning-to-my-california-roots-and-joining/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [The cloud is one of the most extraordinary opportunities of our lifetime. If we're not investing now, we'll rue the day we didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/the-cloud-is-one-of-the-most-extraordinary-opportunities-of-our/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [One of the biggest problems women have is they work really hard and put their heads down and assume hard work gets noticed. 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That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Incrementalism in technology leads to irrelevance; what you need is revolutionary change.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ruth Porat" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/incrementalism-in-technology-leads-to-irrelevance-what-you-need-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/incrementalism-in-technology-leads-to-irrelevance-what-you-need-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/ruth-porat-17409_change_incrementalism-in-technology-leads-to-ir_22405.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/ruth-porat-17409_change_incrementalism-in-technology-leads-to-ir_22405.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/ruth-porat-17409_change_incrementalism-in-technology-leads-to-ir_22405.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Incrementalism in technology leads to irrelevance; what you need is revolutionary change.” — Ruth Porat", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ruth Porat", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Incrementalism in technology leads to irrelevance;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/incrementalism-in-technology-leads-to-irrelevance-what-you-need-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/incrementalism-in-technology-leads-to-irrelevance-what-you-need-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```