Silicon Valley’s overuse of the term ‘disruption’ is causing a shift in its meaning and impact. Originally coined by Harvard professor Clayton Christensen, ‘disruption’ referred to a process where smaller companies, with fewer resources, could challenge established industry giants. It has now become a buzzword, used indiscriminately to describe any situation where an industry is shaken up or changed.
This shift in usage is problematic because it blurs the line between genuine disruption and mere innovation. Not every change is disruptive. True disruption is rare and requires a specific set of circumstances: an established company ignores a niche market, a smaller company exploits it, and eventually the smaller company’s product becomes mainstream.
The misuse of ‘disruption’ is not just a semantic issue. It can lead to a misunderstanding of market dynamics and the misallocation of resources. For instance, investors may pour money into ‘disruptive’ start-ups, hoping for high returns, but end up losing out if the start-up is not truly disruptive.
In conclusion, it’s crucial to distinguish between disruption and innovation. The misuse of the term ‘disruption’ could lead to poor decision-making, potentially causing financial losses and missed opportunities.
Go to source article: http://www.newrepublic.com/article/114125/disruption-silicon-valleys-worst-buzzword