UMD 01

Of Immortal firms in mortal markets:  Dissolving "The Innovators' Dilemma"

In this essay we examine the assumptions called into question by one such dilemma in business, namely the Innovator’s Dilemma (Christensen, 1997). The two assumptions challenged by the Innovator’s Dilemma are: (1) Predictive rationality in decision making within the firm; and, (2) Pre-existent markets in the firm’s environment. We will replace these two assumptions with (1) effectuation (i.e. a plural notion of rationality) in the firm’s internal decision making, and (2) an environment consisting of mortal markets (existing markets competing with markets yet-to-be), respectively. The new conceptual reality thus ushered in will define a new theoretical role for firms in our economic models. Inside such a re-conceptualization, the creation of new technologies and new markets is a matter of course in the lives of firms, rather than being possible disruptions in their daily existence.