Managing discontinuous innovation

OVERVIEW: The process of managing breakthrough, or discontinuous, innovation differs dramatically from managing incremental changes in products and technologies. We have learned a lot about the latter; but know little about the former. It seems obvious, though, that what is sound management practice for incremental innovation-where speed, cycle time, and quick cash recovery are primary objectives-might actually hamper the radical innovation's progress. The study reported here identified mechanisms and practices under management's control that can help to further the discontinuous innovation process. These include mechanisms for directing the technology-market arenas in which these projects occur, mechanisms for proactively stimulating discontinuous innovation, criteria for project evaluation and screening that differ from currently used criteria, mechanisms for protecting projects that operate in highly uncertain regimes, and the importance of recognizing the key role of multiple champions over time and at different organizational levels.