Disruptive Innovation: A bibliographic study
Author
Masar, Matej
Term
4. term
Publication year
2019
Abstract
Disruptive innovation (DI) has become a widely used yet often misunderstood term in academia and business. This thesis aims to clarify what makes an innovation disruptive, how DI is defined, and how it can be identified, while also examining the link from theory to practice, including whether DI can be anticipated and leveraged strategically. The study is a bibliographic literature review drawing on Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Aalborg University’s library portal, supplemented by Google, with systematic screening via titles, abstracts, and citation snowballing. As a conceptual frame, it situates DI within entrepreneurship theory by contrasting Schumpeter’s creative destruction and radical novelty with Kirzner’s arbitrage, imitation, and incremental change, viewing them as complementary sources of opportunity. The thesis synthesizes key definitions, distinguishes DI from other innovation types, and addresses common misunderstandings; it also considers practical implications such as identification, predictability, and incumbent responses, and highlights avenues for further research. The excerpt does not include final findings, but the objective is to provide a clear, practice-oriented synthesis of the DI literature.
Disruptiv innovation (DI) er blevet et udbredt, ofte misforstået begreb i både forskning og erhvervsliv. Denne afhandling søger at afklare, hvad der gør en innovation disruptiv, hvordan DI defineres, og hvordan den kan identificeres, samt at belyse forbindelsen mellem teori og praksis, herunder om DI kan forudses og udnyttes strategisk. Studiet er et bibliografisk litteraturstudie baseret på søgninger i Google Scholar, Web of Science og Aalborg Universitets biblioteksportal suppleret af Google, med systematisk udvælgelse via titler, abstracts og citationer (snowballing). Som teoretisk ramme placeres DI i forhold til entreprenørskabstraditionerne hos Schumpeter (kreativ destruktion og radikale nybrud) og Kirzner (arbitrage, imitation og inkrementelle forbedringer), som i samspil former muligheder i markeder. Afhandlingen samler og diskuterer centrale definitioner, afgrænser DI over for andre innovationstyper og adresserer udbredte misforståelser; den undersøger også praktiske implikationer som identifikation, forudsigelighed og incumbent-strategier samt peger på mulige forskningsspor. Uddraget indeholder ikke de endelige resultater, men formålet er at levere en klar, praksisnær syntese af DI-litteraturen.
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