Strategic Logic of Disruptive Innovation

Today’s world of business is increasingly witnessing exemplary firms which introduce new business models, exploit new markets and disrupt established firms in order to create a unique competitive position. Although the theoretical and conceptual posture of this phenomenon is well grounded and explained in the extant literature on disruptive innovation, little is known about strategic logic of this phenomenon. In other words, the managerial paradigm or cognitive and mental model that underlies the orchestration of microand macro-organizational mechanisms of a disruptive move, such as market and technological knowledge, have surprisingly received little attention. In this sense, an analytical review of literature suggests that strategic logic of a disruptive technology can be well presented through the lens of business model (BM) and its innovation. Accordingly, it is argued that business model represents a mental model which underlines activities such as acquisition of market and technological insights, opportunities and requisite actions required for transforming a disruptive idea into a disruptive market movement. This view offers new insights into the study of disruptive phenomenon. It addresses the managerial (i.e. mental model) underpinnings of disruptiveness, instead of market, economical and technological dimensions. Business model innovation (BMI) is a disruptive change in the core logic of value creation and capture. It is a value-revolutionizing framework which explicitly delineates the strategic processes of a disruptive strategy. Thus, it is essentially a paradigm for strategizing the craft of disruptive innovation (technology). Given this view, this chapter conceptually explicates this contour and shows how BMI effectuates a disruptive technological phenomenon by presenting four propositions. Finally theoretical and managerial implications of this view are illuminated in order to furthering the practice and enhancing future research in this growing field of inquiry. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-1619-6.ch005