Lead and Disrupt

How to Solve the Innovator's Dilemma

By: Charles A. O'Reilly III, Michael L. Tushman

Narrated by: James Foster

In the past few years, a number of well-known firms have failed; think of Blockbuster, Kodak, or RadioShack. When we hear about their demise, it often seems inevitable - a natural part of "creative destruction." But closer examination reveals a disturbing truth: Companies large and small are shuttering more quickly than ever. What does it take to buck this trend?

The simple answer is: ambidexterity. Firms must remain competitive in their core markets, while also winning in new domains. Innovation guru Clayton M. Christensen has been pessimistic about whether established companies can prevail in the face of disruption, but Charles A. O'Reilly III and Michael L. Tushman know they can! The authors explain how shrewd organizations have used an ambidextrous approach to solve their own innovator's dilemma. They contrast these luminaries with companies which - often trapped by their own successes - have been unable to adapt and grow.

Drawing on a vast research program and over a decade of helping companies to innovate, the authors present a set of practices to guide firms as they adopt ambidexterity. Top-down and bottom-up leaders are key to this process - a fact too often overlooked in the heated debate about innovation. But not in this case. Listeners will come away with a new understanding of how to improve their existing businesses through efficiency, control, and incremental change, while also seizing new markets where flexibility, autonomy, and experimentation rule the day.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2016 The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Jr. University (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Very very inspirational to me.

There is no way I do something now on, relate to strategy, that will not be influenced by the thoughts I have got from this books.

Excellent book for all Companies and Corporations

This book covers all aspects necessary for the turn of the Century mindset needed in Companies and Corporations.

Excellent piece of work

It was a great pleasure to go through such wonderful journey in the book monitoring multiple success and failure stories of managing organizations in ambidextrous manner to avail exploring new disruptive business model while maintaining exploitation capabilities for current business in consistently inconsistent management style. One of the best books I have read ever.

Issues with audio

The book is ok but final chapters there are issues with audio. Starts/stop voluntarily

Concise view as to why leaders fail to innovate

The authors clearly outline why leaders fail to innovate and provided methods to overcome these challenges. Ultimately, success comes down to the competency and curiosity of leaders to engage and balance the needs of now with the needs of the future. Recommend this book to anyone navigating a dysfunctional organization.