More than 30 years ago, Clayton Christensen introduced a revolutionary concept that transformed the business world: disruptive innovation. In this program, Christensen helps strategic decision-makers understand how disruption works and determine when to invest in core versus disruptive business models. 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.

Summary: More than 30 years ago, Clayton Christensen introduced a revolutionary concept that transformed the business world: disruptive innovation. In this program, Christensen helps strategic decision-makers understand how disruption works and determine when to invest in core versus disruptive business models. 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.

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 can drive 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
Implementing a strategy of low-cost positioning
Scaling fast to take advantage of network effects
Outsourcing activities that are not your current core competence
Sourcing new leaders from inside the firm

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

Extend your network by living 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
Implementing a strategy of low-cost positioning
Scaling fast to take advantage of network effects
Outsourcing activities that are not your current core competence
Sourcing new leaders from inside the firm

Expand your personal and professional network

Extend your network by living 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 enhance the program's impact

Participating Companies Have Included:

Accenture

Anglo American

Citibanamex

Intel

Deutsche Bank

Fidelity

Globo

Maersk Group

Pricewaterhouse Coopers

Samsung Electronics

Saudi Telecom

Verizon

Dive Deeper into the Experience

We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?

Thrive in a learning environment that welcomes diverse ideas and perspectives.

Experience the Case Method in the Classroom

Watch participants debate the issues and present their viewpoints.

Discover more about business. And yourself.

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

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 enhance the program's impact

Participating Companies Have Included:

Accenture

Anglo American

Citibanamex

Intel

Deutsche Bank

Fidelity

Globo

Maersk Group

Pricewaterhouse Coopers

Samsung Electronics

Saudi Telecom

Verizon

Dive Deeper into the Experience

We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?

Thrive in a learning environment that welcomes diverse ideas and perspectives.

Experience the Case Method in the Classroom

Watch participants debate the issues and present their viewpoints.

Discover more about business. And yourself.

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Learning and Living at HBS

When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.

Learning and Living at HBS: When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.

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.

Admissions Criteria and Process

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, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals. No payment is necessary until you have been accepted. Payment is required prior to the program start date. If you need to cancel or defer participation, you must submit your request in writing more than 30 days before the start of the program to receive a full refund. Cancellations or deferrals received 14 to 30 days prior to the start of the program are subject to a fee of one-half of the program fee. Requests received within 14 days are subject to full payment.

What You Will Learn

Created and led by Clayton Christensen, this stimulating program offers a rare opportunity to engage in a dynamic learning experience with one of the world's most influential business thinkers. Through presentations by Christensen and his HBS faculty colleagues, carefully chosen case studies, and small-group discussions, 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 and led by Clayton Christensen, this stimulating program offers a rare opportunity to engage in a dynamic learning experience with one of the world's most influential business thinkers. Through presentations by Christensen and his HBS faculty colleagues, carefully chosen case studies, and small-group discussions, 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.

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?

How Will You Measure Your Life?

At the conclusion of Disruptive Innovation, Christensen will discuss how to stimulate growth and innovation in your personal life. Drawing on lessons from his popular book, How Will You Measure Your Life?, he will share guidelines for finding meaning and happiness in life.

How Will You Measure Your Life?: At the conclusion of Disruptive Innovation, Christensen will discuss how to stimulate growth and innovation in your personal life. Drawing on lessons from his popular book, How Will You Measure Your Life?, he will share guidelines for finding meaning and happiness in life.

Faculty

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 Chair

Clayton M. Christensen

Kim B. Clark Professor of Business Administration. Member of the General Management and the Technology and Operations Management Units; and faculty chair of "Disruptive Innovation: Strategies for a Successful Enterprise."

The "Jobs to be Done" Theory of Innovation. How successful companies know how to grow.

Read Full Bio Learn More

Faculty

Chester A. Huber

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration. Member of the General Management Unit.

Read Full Bio

Stephen P. Kaufman

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration. Member of the Technology and Operations Management Unit.

Read Full Bio

Allison H. Mnookin

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration in the Technology and Operations Management (TOM) Unit.

Read Full Bio

Willy C. Shih

Robert and Jane Cizik Professor of Management Practice in Business Administration. Member of the Technology and Operations Management Unit.

Read Full Bio

Derek C. M. van Bever

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration. Director of Forum for Innovation and Growth; and member of the General Management Unit.

Learn how the Harnessing Disruptive Innovation program can help you champion change and drive growth.

Read Full Bio Learn More

Faculty: 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 Chair

Clayton M. Christensen

Kim B. Clark Professor of Business Administration. Member of the General Management and the Technology and Operations Management Units; and faculty chair of "Disruptive Innovation: Strategies for a Successful Enterprise."

The "Jobs to be Done" Theory of Innovation. How successful companies know how to grow.

Read Full Bio Learn More

Faculty

Chester A. Huber

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration. Member of the General Management Unit.

Read Full Bio

Stephen P. Kaufman

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration. Member of the Technology and Operations Management Unit.

Read Full Bio

Allison H. Mnookin

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration in the Technology and Operations Management (TOM) Unit.

Read Full Bio

Willy C. Shih

Robert and Jane Cizik Professor of Management Practice in Business Administration. Member of the Technology and Operations Management Unit.

Read Full Bio

Derek C. M. van Bever

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration. Director of Forum for Innovation and Growth; and member of the General Management Unit.

Learn how the Harnessing Disruptive Innovation program can help you champion change and drive growth.

Read Full Bio Learn More

Facilitate Learning Across Your Organization with the Harvard Business School Online Course: Disruptive Strategy

When you enroll in Disruptive Innovation, you will have the opportunity to purchase a bundle that includes five licenses for the Harvard Business School Online online course, Disruptive Strategy with Clayton Christensen. This interactive course features many of the same principles discussed in Disruptive Innovation. With a shared base of knowledge, you and your colleagues will be better equipped to avoid disruption, drive growth through innovation, and leverage a common framework in developing a strategic plan of action

Through the Harvard Business School Online platform, HBS connects learners across the globe with the best ideas, content, and faculty from Harvard Business School. The Disruptive Strategy course offers 30 to 35 hours of material, which generally takes organizations 5 to 10 weeks to complete.

Facilitate Learning Across Your Organization with the Harvard Business School Online Course: Disruptive Strategy

We recommend that the executives selected to participate are responsible for, influence, or execute strategic direction in your organization. The individual who participated in Disruptive Innovation can, but does not have to, use one of the five Disruptive Strategy licenses. This individual may serve as the champion for the Harvard Business School Online Disruptive Strategy initiative within your organization. Alternatively, your Training and Development department could spearhead the project).

Executives from your organization participate in the course simultaneously as a cohort. To ensure that your group can speak freely about confidential topics, your cohort is composed of participants only from your organization. This also enables us to tailor the program to fit your team's schedule and to address specific organizational challenges. Each cohort can accommodate anywhere from 5 to 75 participants. Additional seats beyond five may be purchased for $1,700 per person

If you purchased the bundle, your organization must begin the Harvard Business School Online online course no later than 12 months after the completion of the Disruptive Innovation program.

View an Harvard Business School Online demo and learn about Clayton Christensen's teaching methodology.

Apply Application PDF

More Admissions Information

Program content, dates, fees, and faculty are subject to change. In accordance with Harvard University policy, Harvard Business School does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities.

Need Help? Contact Us:

Program Advising team

Email: executive_education@hbs.edu
Telephone: 1.800.427.5577
(outside the U.S., +1.617.495.6555)

Request the Brochure

Download PDF

Earn a Certificate of Management Excellence

This program applies toward the HBS Certificate of Management Excellence.

Learn More

"The program retunes your brain to be a sponge again. It's a fantastic learning experience."

Nina Zimmermann

Managing Director, Burda Studios Publishing, Germany

Read Her Story

Identify the Right Program for You

Program Finder

Need Help? Contact Us:

Program Advising team

Email: executive_education@hbs.edu
Telephone: 1.800.427.5577
(outside the U.S., +1.617.495.6555)

Earn a Certificate of Management Excellence

This program applies toward the HBS Certificate of Management Excellence.

Learn More

Request the Brochure

Download PDF

"The program retunes your brain to be a sponge again. It's a fantastic learning experience."

Nina Zimmermann

Managing Director, Burda Studios Publishing, Germany

Read Her Story

Identify the Right Program for You

Program Finder

Need Help? Contact Us:

Program Advising team

Email: executive_education@hbs.edu
Telephone: 1.800.427.5577
(outside the U.S., +1.617.495.6555)

Request the Brochure

Download PDF

Learn how the Harnessing Disruptive Innovation program can help you champion change and drive growth.

Derek C. M. van Bever

Faculty

Learn More

Identify the Right Program for You

Program Finder

Need Help? Contact Us:

Program Advising team

Email: executive_education@hbs.edu
Telephone: 1.800.427.5577
(outside the U.S., +1.617.495.6555)

Request the Brochure

Download PDF

Learn how the Harnessing Disruptive Innovation program can help you champion change and drive growth.

Derek C. M. van Bever

Faculty

Learn More

Identify the Right Program for You

Program Finder

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Disruptive Innovation: Strategies for a Successful Enterprise

"The program retunes your brain to be a sponge again. It's a fantastic learning experience."

"The program retunes your brain to be a sponge again. It's a fantastic learning experience."

Learn how the Harnessing Disruptive Innovation program can help you champion change and drive growth.

Learn how the Harnessing Disruptive Innovation program can help you champion change and drive growth.

Summary

Summary

DetailsExpand AllCollapse All

Create and sustain a strong position in an evolving industryCreate and sustain a strong position in an evolving industry icon-dropdown-down

Drive innovationDrive innovation icon-dropdown-down

Make better decisions through strategic analysis and predictive frameworksMake better decisions through strategic analysis and predictive frameworks icon-dropdown-down

Expand your personal and professional networkExpand your personal and professional network icon-dropdown-down

Create and sustain a strong position in an evolving industry

Drive innovation

Make better decisions through strategic analysis and predictive frameworks

Expand your personal and professional network

Who Should Attend

Who Should Attend

Learning and Living at HBS

Learning and Living at HBS