Friday, April 17, 2009

Another reason why new technologies rarely, if ever, succeed in established, rather than emerging, markets.

"And it ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, then to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them." The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli. Chapter VI.

h/t Carly Fiorina @Stanford.

References: 
1. Niccollo Machiavelli.  The Prince. 1532.
2. Greg A Stevens; James Burley. Piloting the rocket of radical innovation. Research Technology Management; Mar/Apr 2003.
3. Clayton Christenen. The Innovator's Dilemma. 1997. (Chapter 6?).
4. Reid Hoffman. Choosing the Entrepreneurial Path. 2007. (a Stanford talk).
5. Eugene Shteyn. How to Invent. 2009(?). (chapter 2).

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