The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail

One area of industry excluded in Clayton M. Christensen’s book is the creative sector. Select a creative industry and discuss how the theory of innovative disruption might be leveraged to either upend or defend market positions.

Several films in 2023, such as Flamin’ Hot, Blackberry, and Air, recount the ways in which different managers introduced iconic brands to the public consciousness. Choosing one of these films, discuss whether the protagonist(s) introduced a disruptive innovation into their industry, and trace its performance trajectory along the lines of Christensen’s framework.

Though The Innovator’s Dilemma was written in the 1990s, Christensen’s insights could still apply to today’s most popular industries. Analyze the social media industry through the lens of the value network framework. Which companies would be considered established firms in the current market hierarchy? Likewise, identify market entrants who could pose a threat to these companies.