Pardon the Disruption: We're Innovating

Disruption is said to be both 'a road map to success' and the 'fastest route to business failure,' according to feedback received by the Tom Peters Company! at a recent executive study group. The firm's Tom Peters Times! newsletter defines disruption as 'a force that significantly interferes with the creation and flow of value between the organization and its customers' ('Business,' 2006).

While we know that unexpected disruptions can play havoc with the ability to achieve business goals, we also know that organizations need some disruption. Disruptive innovation, in particular, is necessary to provide the kinds of breakthroughs that really solve problems. Too often, the focus of innovation efforts is on incremental innovation another dollar in the pocket until the next competitor matches the innovation for less or surpasses it in yet another incremental fashion. Such incremental product and service changes seem to come at breakneck speed these days.

But can we get at the necessary type of disruption without it being so, well, disruptive? Might we edge our way into breakthroughs in a more incremental fashion?

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