Title: The Innovator’s Dilemma
Author: Clayton M. Christensen
Topics: Strategy
You should read if: you are involved in product line planning, corporate strategy, or looking to commercialize a new technology.
Description: I heard Mr. Christensen speak at an innovation seminar in 2004, and was struck by his poise and obvious intelligence. This book defines and describes the impact of a disruptive technology. The book is a fun read well supported with anecdotes and data visualizations. From a product management perspective, the contents are both exciting and frightening, and if you can internalize the concepts, the book is a great resource for product planning. The ideas apply to both large companies and startups though these constituents are usually on opposite sides of the disruptive technologies. Mr. Christensen follows up this book with two others, The Innovator’s Solution and Seeing What’s Next, both good reads.