The Misuse of 'Disrupt' in Tech and Business
In a 2012 opinion piece, the author critiques the overuse and misuse of the term 'disrupt' in the tech and business world. Originally meaning a negative disruption, the word was co-opted by Clayton Christensen in his 1995 Harvard Business Review paper 'Disruptive Technologies: Catching the Wave,' where he theorized that successful companies become vulnerable to cheaper, simpler competitors. The term gained prominence in Silicon Valley, especially at the Disrupt conference organized by Michael Arrington in San Francisco, New York, and Beijing, featuring companies like Airbnb, Uber, and TaskRabbit. The author argues that 'disrupt' has become a buzzword used to cover a lack of ideas, often associated with undercutting costs and chasing quick exits, rather than genuine innovation that improves the human condition. The piece concludes by suggesting that 'disrupt' should only be used to describe true improvements to society, not just cheaper services.
Key facts
- The word 'disrupt' originally had negative connotations, referring to classroom misbehavior or interruptions.
- Clayton Christensen introduced the term in his 1995 paper 'Disruptive Technologies: Catching the Wave' in the Harvard Business Review.
- Christensen's theory focused on how successful companies become vulnerable to competitors with cheaper, simpler products.
- The Disrupt conference, organized by Michael Arrington, is held in San Francisco, New York, and Beijing.
- Companies featured at Disrupt include Airbnb, Uber, and TaskRabbit.
- Newark mayor Corey Booker has spoken at the Disrupt conference.
- The term 'disrupt' has become a common pitch-verb in startups, often used alongside 'pivot'.
- The author argues that 'disrupt' is often used to cover a lack of ideas and to justify undercutting costs.
- The article suggests that true disruption should improve the human condition, not just offer cheaper services.
Entities
Artists
- Clayton Christensen
- Michael Arrington
- Corey Booker
Institutions
- Harvard Business Review
- Airbnb
- Uber
- TaskRabbit
- Quartz
Locations
- San Francisco
- New York
- Beijing
- United States
Sources
- Quartz —