When Is a Disruptive Innovation Disruptive?<sup>*</sup>

Glen M. Schmidt, Cheryl Druehl · 2008 · Journal of Product Innovation Management

Summary. This paper distinguishes between market-disrupting innovations and disruptive innovations as defined by Christensen, using diffusion patterns to explain why incumbents sometimes underestimate threats. The authors identify low-end encroachment (fringe-market, detached-market, and immediate scenarios) where innovations spread upward from low-end markets, and high-end encroachment where impact is immediate. They provide a three-step framework to assess diffusion patterns and help firms evaluate innovation threats or opportunities.

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Schmidt, G. M., & Druehl, C.. (2008). When Is a Disruptive Innovation Disruptive?<sup>*</sup>. Journal of Product Innovation Management. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5885.2008.00306.x

@article{schmidt-2008-when-disruptive-innovation-disruptive-sup,
  title   = {When Is a Disruptive Innovation Disruptive?<sup>*</sup>},
  author  = {Glen M. Schmidt and Cheryl Druehl},
  journal = {Journal of Product Innovation Management},
  year    = {2008},
  doi     = {10.1111/j.1540-5885.2008.00306.x},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5885.2008.00306.x}
}

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AU  - Glen M. Schmidt
AU  - Cheryl Druehl
JO  - Journal of Product Innovation Management
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Details

DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5885.2008.00306.x
Countries: United States
Regions: North America
Categories: innovation-theory, general-innovation
Added: 2026-04-28