The dilemma of disruption

47th St. Gallen Symposium, 35 May 2017

When Apple launched the iTunes software 15 years ago, the company knew what its consumers wanted, long
before the latter realised the need themselves. And within just a decade, the recording industry had been
completely reshaped. The launch of the App store in 2007 with only 500 applications was just the beginning of
the next Apple-driven revolution. Less than a decade later, the platform now offers over two million applications,
downloaded more than 130 billion times. Services like Skype or Twitter have revolutionised the way we
communicate. Platforms like Uber or Airbnb have transformed the way we travel. And networks like Facebook or
LinkedIn are changing the way we connect privately as well as professionally. Disruptive innovations alter the
way we live and pose a real danger to established companies and business models.
The phenomenon of outsiders quietly rewriting the rules and suddenly attacking established systems is not a
phenomenon restricted to business. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was a response to rising societal pressure
which ultimately heralded the rebirth of democracy in Central Europe. More recently, democracy itself has
surprised the world: British voters decision to exit the European Union called into question the idea of the EU
itself, and might soon fundamentally change Europe.
In one way or another, we are all affected by disruption, a term introduced by Clayton Christensen in the 1997
book The Innovator's Dilemma. Two decades later, Christensens theoretical framework is by no means
unchallenged. But even critics acknowledge that the sudden demise of industry leaders and political systems is
occurring with growing frequency. The debate around disruption shows three things: First, disruption is
happening more often and affecting areas which had been spared from radical changes in the past, such as the
healthcare industry or the financial world. Second, there is no simple answer to the question of whether
disruption is good or bad. While pioneering progress in the healthcare industry is appreciated by the vast majority
of our society, radical changes in political systems that jeopardise balance and stability might be dangerous. And
third, what we are witnessing at the moment might be just the tip of the iceberg: The age of real disruption
might be right around the corner.
Few management theories have had as much influence on the business community and our society as the
concept of disruption. The 47th St. Gallen Symposium will take up the theme under the headline The dilemma of
disruption, looking at the breeding grounds for radical change, assessing the tough decisions that come with it
and directing participants gaze beyond the strict business definition.

The breeding grounds

For any change to happen, a receptive environment plays a vital role. In this context, three elements seem
important: First, political and personal freedom are prerequisites for progress as well as for flexible and adaptive
reactions to change. Second, mobility of goods, money, labour, people, and ideas across borders are key
promoters of disruption. And third, societys ability to question itself might be the most important factor in
creating the basis for innovations such as education and healthcare delivered at a fraction of the cost charged by
todays market leaders.

Tough decisions
Established companies often lack the ability to embrace new ideas and abandon past successes. This especially
applies when it comes to choosing between sticking with existing markets and getting better incrementally or
entering new markets by adopting new business models and embracing new technologies. While some
companies, like IBM, successfully managed to reinvent themselves, others like Blockbuster or Polaroid are
about to vanish or already have disappeared. Since the year 2000, over half of the companies in the Fortune 500
have either gone bankrupt, been acquired or ceased to exist.

Beyond the business definition

Although the concept of disruptive innovation is deeply rooted in management theory, identical tendencies and
radical changes have been seen in media, politics, academia and society. Electoral systems, which are more open
and less predictable than ever before, are fundamentally transforming politics. At the same time, demographic
change said to be no ordinary disruption but still posing similar challenges is one of the most pressing issues
our society faces. Ageing populations will transform everything from healthcare to real estate. Workplaces will
be reinvented by a labour force dominated by Millennials. Cities economic and public policy clout will increase
through urbanisation. And last but not least, migration will have profound impacts on labour markets and
economic development.