Innovator's Dilemma and Disruptive Innovation - Essay Example

There are different products in the market.  Based on the needs of the market, the products are made upon demand. 

Innovator’s Dilemma

            The inventor’s dilemma can be described as the conceptualization of the products that can be successful in the market.  The establishment of concepts and products can be based on trends or on the set up on a new need that can lead to demands in the future.  The dilemma lies in the fact that the new products can either set a new trend or stop the trend of current products (Christensen 2003).

            The introduction of a new product in the market can either reinforce or disrupt a particular product classification.  Disruptive technologies which are considered to have negative effects on other products can be considered to reinforce the innovator’s dilemma.

Sustaining and Disruptive Technologies

            In relation to the types of technologies on the basis of the behavior of the innovations and products in the market, the main classifications are sustaining and disruptive technologies.

            The sustaining technologies can be considered to seek improvement of products that are found in the market.  For that matter, such technologies are present to be able to correct and lessen the incapacities of the older technology.  On the other hand, disruptive technologies are aimed to halt the production of products due to the fact that they are replaced by new innovations that are more utilizable and in certain cases cheaper and more affordable to attract the interest of the target market (Bower & Christensen 1995; Christensen 2003).

            Based on different events in the market, the disruptive technologies have the tendency to achieve higher product performance in a shorter period of time as compared to sustaining technologies that can have a more stable yet slow ascent in terms of demand in the market due to the fact that there are competitors presenting different improvements in a particular product (Christensen 2003).

Christensen’s Principles

            In the concept of disruptive technologies, Christensen presented different principles that can explain the behavior of the market in relation to the said technologies.  Such principles are important in the prediction of possible disruptive technology that can be a threat to presently established and sustaining technologies that are related to stable companies.

            One of the principles presented by Christensen to be able to predict disruptive innovations is through the study and analyses of the market in a different view.  For that matter, innovations and new ways of conceptualization are needed to be able to hinder technologies from competing companies to gain control of the profit.  Another important principle viewed by Christensen is the conceptualization of different services and products that can be innovative and appealing to the people.  In the said principle, the author of the book Innovator’s Dilemma is suggesting to produce disruptive technologies for own company to be able to occupy a niche of its own wherein dominance and monopoly is possible and profitability is highly achievable.  Another principle discusses the importance of moderation.  Oftentimes, consumers choose simple inventions and innovations that are highly utilizable.  For that matter, complicated and well-engineered products can be appealing but less utilizable for a large portion of the consumers

(Anthony, Goulait & McLaughlin 2006).

            The principles presented by Christensen can be considered to revolve around the bounds of creativeness, innovativeness, and utility.  For that matter, in the view of a business organization, it can be considered important to target such characteristics and concepts to be able to occupy a distinct niche that can set future trends.

Conclusion

            Innovator’s dilemmas and disruptive technologies can be considered influential concepts in the market.  This can be attributed to the observable fact that large and established companies were able to set up and occupy their own niche in the market.  The companies that invented products of their own kind have a high probability of success on the basis of additional factors such as utility and use of the particular product offered.