More than 20 years ago, late HBS professor Clayton Christensen introduced a revolutionary concept that transformed the business world and is still widely applied today: disruptive innovation. In this live online program, Christensen's hand-selected teaching team will help strategic decision-makers understand how disruption works and determine when and how to invest in core versus disruptive business models, as well as how to mount an effective defense against disruption. As you gain insight into the ways that evolving industries, technologies, and competitive forces can affect your business, you will be better prepared to harness innovation, lead breakthrough change, and sustain enterprise success.

You may also be interested in the related program: Disruptive Innovation: Strategies for a Successful Enterprise.

This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More

Summary

You may also be interested in the related program: Disruptive Innovation: Strategies for a Successful Enterprise.

This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More

Key Benefits

Examining disruption and strategic decision-making through the lens of Christensen's transformative theory, you will gain a deeper understanding of the levers that drive resource allocation and organizational growth. With the ability to spot potential threats and opportunities sooner and make the right strategic moves faster, you will be ready to drive innovation and position your organization for long-term success.

DetailsExpand All Collapse All

Create and sustain a strong position in an evolving industry Create and sustain a strong position in an evolving industry

Analyze how the structure of an industry may change
Avoid having your business disrupted by others
Achieve differentiation and better margins
Assess your company's capabilities
Sustain core businesses while enabling innovation
Avert common problems that lead companies into decline

Drive innovation Drive innovation

Align your organization around innovation initiatives
Rethink your product, market and strategy
Apply disruptive theories to complex problems and opportunities
Build the skills and vision critical to leading change

Make better decisions through strategic analysis and predictive frameworks Make better decisions through strategic analysis and predictive frameworks

Adopt a strategic mindset and skillset
Apply theories of causality to understand why things happen the way they do
Accurately predict the impact of strategic actions
Better articulate your strategic questions and goals
Assess the risks and opportunities presented by actions such as:

Ignoring sunk costs and making decisions at the margin
Understanding when to implement a strategy of low-cost positioning—and when not to
Examining when to scale fast to take advantage of network effects
Learning how to outsource activities that are not your current core competence, which can lead to commoditization as your industry evolves
Finding the right way to source new leaders from inside the firm, and when it is better to look outside

Expand your personal and professional network Expand your personal and professional network

Extend your network by connecting and working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries across the globe
Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business challenges and career decisions

Key Benefits

Details

Create and sustain a strong position in an evolving industry

Analyze how the structure of an industry may change
Avoid having your business disrupted by others
Achieve differentiation and better margins
Assess your company's capabilities
Sustain core businesses while enabling innovation
Avert common problems that lead companies into decline

Drive innovation

Align your organization around innovation initiatives
Rethink your product, market and strategy
Apply disruptive theories to complex problems and opportunities
Build the skills and vision critical to leading change

Make better decisions through strategic analysis and predictive frameworks

Adopt a strategic mindset and skillset
Apply theories of causality to understand why things happen the way they do
Accurately predict the impact of strategic actions
Better articulate your strategic questions and goals
Assess the risks and opportunities presented by actions such as:

Ignoring sunk costs and making decisions at the margin
Understanding when to implement a strategy of low-cost positioning—and when not to
Examining when to scale fast to take advantage of network effects
Learning how to outsource activities that are not your current core competence, which can lead to commoditization as your industry evolves
Finding the right way to source new leaders from inside the firm, and when it is better to look outside

Expand your personal and professional network

Extend your network by connecting and working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries across the globe
Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business challenges and career decisions

Who Should Attend

The program is appropriate for senior executives, general managers, or business owners who are responsible for setting strategic direction for their organizations.

Attendance by two or more individuals from your organization will foster teamwork and help to lift the lessons of the course out of the classroom and into constructive plans and actions.

Program for Leadership Development participants earn 3 PLDA Points on completion of this program.

Who Should Attend

The program is appropriate for senior executives, general managers, or business owners who are responsible for setting strategic direction for their organizations.

Attendance by two or more individuals from your organization will foster teamwork and help to lift the lessons of the course out of the classroom and into constructive plans and actions.

Program for Leadership Development participants earn 3 PLDA Points on completion of this program.

Leaders in Virtual Learning

When you participate in a virtual HBS Executive Education program, you benefit from a powerful learning experience carefully designed with a virtual setting in mind. Through live, synchronous program sessions you'll engage directly with our renowned faculty to learn from their latest research, gain actionable takeaways, and facilitate your growth. In addition, virtual discussion groups will connect you to a global group of peers and build your network.

Dive Deeper into the Experience

head and shoulder images of people in polygon shapes connected to a laptop with the HBS shield in the center

Virtual Programs for Agile Organizations

Help your organization understand why there is no better time to prioritize learning & development.

Learn More

Discover more about business. And yourself.

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Youngme Moon teaching in the HBSonline studio

Understanding the Benefits of Our Virtual Programs

Four participants of our live online programs share their experiences.

Read Their Stories

Leaders in Virtual Learning: When you participate in a virtual HBS Executive Education program, you benefit from a powerful learning experience carefully designed with a virtual setting in mind. Through live, synchronous program sessions you'll engage directly with our renowned faculty to learn from their latest research, gain actionable takeaways, and facilitate your growth. In addition, virtual discussion groups will connect you to a global group of peers and build your network.

Dive Deeper into the Experience

Virtual Programs for Agile Organizations

Help your organization understand why there is no better time to prioritize learning & development.

Learn More

Discover more about business. And yourself.

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Watch the Video Watch the Video

Understanding the Benefits of Our Virtual Programs

Four participants of our live online programs share their experiences.

Read Their Stories

Admissions Criteria and Process

We admit candidates to specific sessions on a rolling, space-available basis, and encourage you to apply as early as possible. Although most programs have no formal educational requirements, admission is a selective process based on your professional achievement and organizational responsibilities.

Answering Your Questions

Our Program Advising team can help you at any stage of the admissions process—starting with identifying the program that best addresses your learning and development goals. Contact a program advisor via email or call 1.800.427.5577 (outside the U.S., call +1.617.495.6555).

Application Submission

We recommend that you apply at least four weeks before the program start date. You may use our online form or download an application. HBS maintains all application information in strict confidentiality. We acknowledge receipt of applications via email. In the unlikely event that you do not receive an acknowledgment, please email us at exed_admissions@hbs.edu or call us at +1.617.495.6226.

Application Review

To optimize the learning experience and maximize the exchange of ideas, our Admissions Committee makes selections that balance each participant's experience, scope of current responsibilities, and type of organization. HBS seeks candidates who reflect a broad range of industries, functions, countries, and backgrounds. We review applications monthly and will contact you via email with the Admissions Committee's decision.

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

The program fee covers tuition, e-books, and online case materials. No payment is necessary until you have been accepted. Payment is required prior to the program start date. If you need to cancel participation, you must submit your request in writing more than 14 days before the program start date to receive a full refund. Cancellations received 7 to 14 days before the program start date are subject to a payment of 50 percent of the program fee. Requests received within 7 days of the program start date are subject to full payment of the program fee.

Admissions Criteria and Process

Answering Your Questions

Application Submission

Application Review

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

What You Will Learn

Created by Clayton Christensen and led by his teaching team, this virtual program offers the opportunity to engage in a dynamic learning experience through presentations, carefully chosen case studies, and small-group discussions. In this program you will examine the strategies of both disruptors and the disrupted. You'll discover why some strategies succeeded while others failed, and learn how to apply these insights to your own strategic decisions.

What You Will Learn: Created by Clayton Christensen and led by his teaching team, this virtual program offers the opportunity to engage in a dynamic learning experience through presentations, carefully chosen case studies, and small-group discussions. In this program you will examine the strategies of both disruptors and the disrupted. You'll discover why some strategies succeeded while others failed, and learn how to apply these insights to your own strategic decisions.

Program Format

The program takes place over two weeks, with live online classes and discussion groups each day. Class sessions will take place via the Zoom platform. In addition, participants can expect to spend 3 hours per day with self-paced work. You will also have ample opportunity for interaction with faculty and peers inside and outside the class sessions.

Collaborative learning is an integral part of the experience. To maximize the benefit for everyone, you are expected to attend every session, complete all assignments, and contribute effectively in the class and in small groups.

Program Format

Key TopicsExpand All Collapse All

Disruption and your strategy Disruption and your strategy

What does disruption really mean—and how does it work?
How can you tell when a potential disruptor is going to be successful?
What is the signal that an industry is about to commoditize? How do you position to take advantage of that shift?
How do you set strategy in a world that is changing so rapidly? What do you do when what you know is vastly outweighed by what you don't know?

Controlling your destiny: market, resources, and capabilities Controlling your destiny: market, resources, and capabilities

Whose investment capital will help you succeed, and whose money might poison your chances?
Who is your ideal target customer, and how can selecting the wrong customers kill your brand?
What is the hidden danger of core competence theory? How should you decide which activities to keep in-house and which to outsource?
Should you make acquisitions as a means of building capability? If so, should you integrate them or keep them separate?

Key Topics

Disruption and your strategy

What does disruption really mean—and how does it work?
How can you tell when a potential disruptor is going to be successful?
What is the signal that an industry is about to commoditize? How do you position to take advantage of that shift?
How do you set strategy in a world that is changing so rapidly? What do you do when what you know is vastly outweighed by what you don't know?

Controlling your destiny: market, resources, and capabilities

Whose investment capital will help you succeed, and whose money might poison your chances?
Who is your ideal target customer, and how can selecting the wrong customers kill your brand?
What is the hidden danger of core competence theory? How should you decide which activities to keep in-house and which to outsource?
Should you make acquisitions as a means of building capability? If so, should you integrate them or keep them separate?

The HBS Advantage

Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address the complex challenges facing business leaders across the globe.

Faculty Cochairs

Chester A. Huber

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

General Management

Read Full Bio

Rory M. McDonald

Thai-Hi T. Lee (MBA 1985) Associate Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

Derek C. M. van Bever

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

General Management

Read Full Bio

Faculty

Stephen P. Kaufman

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

Allison H. Mnookin

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

Willy C. Shih

Robert and Jane Cizik Professor of Management Practice in Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

The HBS Advantage: Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address the complex challenges facing business leaders across the globe.

Faculty Cochairs

Chester A. Huber

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

General Management

Read Full Bio

Rory M. McDonald

Thai-Hi T. Lee (MBA 1985) Associate Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

Derek C. M. van Bever

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

General Management

Read Full Bio

Faculty

Stephen P. Kaufman

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

Allison H. Mnookin

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

Willy C. Shih

Robert and Jane Cizik Professor of Management Practice in Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio