Antecedents and implications of disruptive innovation: Evidence from China

Abstract

A growing recognition of the importance of disruptive innovation has led researchers to examine the question of how disruptive innovation comes about and to what extent it reflects "discovery" versus "creation" of opportunities. Earlier research has focused on the organisational preconditions for disruptive innovation to arise. Much less attention has been paid to the role of innovation processes, including their goals and design, in promoting disruptive innovation. In this paper we aim to begin to fill this gap by better understanding how new innovation processes can act as antecedents for disruptive innovation.We adopt an inductive theory-building methodology using a set of case studies of Chinese firms to develop propositions about how novel R&D and production processes can foster disruptive innovation. We find that in the case of China the adoption of new innovation processes that re-define the focus of innovation and re-engineer traditional R&D processes in ways that allow the novel deployment of Chinese cost advantages can create offerings that incorporate the key elements of disruptive innovation in the sense that they challenge incumbents' established business models. Realising disruptive innovation opportunities requires proactive initiatives. We conclude by discussing the managerial implications and possible responses as well as directions for future research.

Enhancing ICT for inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…Accordingly, some of the recent themes have included: opportunity creation and discovery within the framework of disruptive innovation (Wan et al, 2015;Hang et al, 2015); opportunity identification by scientific entrepreneurs (Maine et al, 2015); growing ecosystems (see Overholm, 2015); engagement of entrepreneurial innovators that leverage on evolving financial skills and resources (Best, 2015); business opportunities from an ageing population (Kohlbacher et al, 2015) and technological innovation for novel avenues as a consequence of road-mapping in patents (Jeong & Yoon, 2015).…”

Mobile phones, institutional quality and entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…By contributing to the macroeconomic literature on managing technology for entrepreneurship, the positioning of the study substantially deviates from the microeconomic literature on employing technology in entrepreneurial opportunities. Contemporary literature within this strand has included: emphasis on a series of innovations in entrepreneurship which are continuously improving because of financial resources and novel skills (Best, 2015); opportunity discovery and opportunity creation within the perspective of disruptive innovation (Wan et al, 2015;Hang et al, 2015); opportunities of entrepreneurship from an ageing population (Kohlbacher et al, 2015) and evolving ecosystems (Overholm, 2015); identification of opportunities by research collaborators (McKelveyet al, 2015) and scientific entrepreneurs (Maine et al, 2015) and technological advancements offering new opportunities owing to the road-mapping of patents (Jeong & Yoon, 2015). This investigation also complements a stream of technology management literature on the consequences of emerging technologies, particularly: on the relevance of mobile phones in social change and development (Cozzens, 2011;Mira & Dangersfield, 2012;Brouwer & Brito, 2012;Islama & Meadeb, 2012;Thakar, 2012;Alkemade & Surrs, 2012;Gupta & Jain, 2012;Sonne, 2012;Amankwah-Amoah, 2015Amankwah-Amoah & Sarpong, 2016).…”

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“…Some recent streams of the highlighted literature have included: entrepreneurial opportunities for the ageing population (Kohlbacher et al, 2015); targeting of entrepreneurial innovators who are continuously innovating because of better skills and financial resources (Best, 2015) and opportunity discovery and creation within the framework of disruptive innovation (Hang et al, 2015;Wan et al, 2015).…”