Symmetric Assumptions in the Theory of Disruptive Innovation: Theoretical and Managerial Implications

Christian Sandström, Henrik Berglund, Mats Magnusson · 2014 · Creativity and Innovation Management

Summary. This paper critiques disruptive innovation theory for making asymmetric assumptions about firms. It argues that while the theory explains why established companies fail to adopt new technologies, it treats incumbent firms as internally diverse but assumes environmental firms are homogeneous. The authors propose a more symmetric theoretical framework that recognizes both incumbents and their environment contain heterogeneous actors, and that firms can actively shape their environment rather than merely respond to it.

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@article{sandstr-m-2014-symmetric-assumptions-theory-disruptive-innovation,
  title   = {Symmetric Assumptions in the Theory of Disruptive Innovation: Theoretical and Managerial Implications},
  author  = {Christian Sandström and Henrik Berglund and Mats Magnusson},
  journal = {Creativity and Innovation Management},
  year    = {2014},
  doi     = {10.1111/caim.12092},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1111/caim.12092}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Symmetric Assumptions in the Theory of Disruptive Innovation: Theoretical and Managerial Implications
AU  - Christian Sandström
AU  - Henrik Berglund
AU  - Mats Magnusson
JO  - Creativity and Innovation Management
PY  - 2014
DO  - 10.1111/caim.12092
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/caim.12092
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.1111/caim.12092

Categories

innovation-theory, general-innovation

Added

2026-04-28