Disruptive innovation facts for kids

Disruptive innovation is a cool idea or new technology that completely changes how things are done. It often starts small, creating a brand new market. At first, big companies might not notice it. But then, it grows super fast! Eventually, it can even replace older ways of doing things.

Think about Flash memory. When it first came out, it was expensive. It couldn't store much data compared to old hard drives. But flash memory was tiny and used very little power. So, it was perfect for things like MP3 players and USB sticks. Over time, it got better and cheaper. Now, flash memory is used in solid-state drives (SSDs) that are replacing traditional hard drives in computers!

What is Disruptive Innovation?

The idea of disruptive innovation was first explained by a smart professor named Clayton Christensen in 1995. He said that a disruptive innovation is a product or service made for a new group of customers.

How Disruptive Ideas Start Small

Professor Christensen explained that these new ideas often use simple technology. They might even use parts that are already available. These new products are often simpler than older ones.

At first, they might not offer all the features that people using older products want. This means they are not very popular with existing customers. Instead, they appeal to new customers in smaller, newer markets. These markets might seem unimportant to big companies at first.

Why Big Companies Miss Them

Big companies usually focus on making their current products better for their main customers. They might not see the value in these new, simpler products. They might think the new market is too small to bother with.

But as the disruptive innovation gets better and cheaper, it starts to appeal to more and more people. Soon, it becomes good enough for the main market. By then, it's often too late for the big companies to catch up.

Examples of Disruptive Innovation

Disruptive innovation happens all the time. It changes how we live and work.

The Bicycle Example

Think about bicycles. Early bicycles, like the penny-farthing, were hard to ride. They had a huge front wheel. Then came the "safety bicycle." It had two wheels of the same size and was much easier to ride. This was a disruptive innovation. It made cycling popular for everyone, not just brave adventurers.

Digital Cameras vs. Film Cameras

Another example is digital cameras. When they first came out, they took lower quality pictures than film cameras. But they were convenient because you didn't need to buy film or develop photos. Over time, digital cameras got much better. They eventually replaced most film cameras.

Streaming Services vs. DVDs

Think about how you watch movies. First, there were VHS tapes, then DVDs. Now, many people use streaming services like Netflix. Streaming started small, but it offered convenience. You could watch movies instantly without buying a disc. This disrupted the DVD market.

Images for kids

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  An 1880 penny-farthing (left), and a 1886 Rover safety bicycle with gearing

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  This chart shows how a new, simpler technology can grow to replace older ones over time.

See also

In Spanish: Tecnología disruptiva para niños