Book Review: The Innovator's Dilemma

Before I know it, a year has passed. Another New Year's Eve is here. Having been named as Steve Job's "deeply influencing" book, I hope to learn a thing or two about the technology trends. To my surprise (and a bit of disappointment), the book doesn't discuss much perspectives from creators or innovators but is mostly tailored to managers in practice, especially those at well-established, outstanding companies. Don't be afraid to skim sections once you get the points. Read the last two chapters of the book for a sketch of ideas. Below are my takeaways:

Summary

Industries leaders failed in establishing themselves when disruptive technologies emerged and dominated the market. The downfalls come from what most managers are trained to "listen to their customers" and their unwillingness to invest in the less profitable markets. By nature, disruptive technologies begin with lower performance, but lower margin relative to sustaining technologies. As more time and effort is spent, disruptive technologies soon are able to meet the market demand and supplant existing technologies. The author offers several strategies, including acquiring or designating  an independent entity suited for smaller markets, to embrace disruptions and possibly survive the next waves of emerging technologies.   

Two takeaways from the book:

• If you are a manager at a large successful firm: Do not listen to your customers when it comes to innovation. Your organization's processes and values will dictate if they (you) will rise or fall. Because large companies position themselves in the upmarket, they divest away from the low-margin disruptive technology, which (possibly) eventually supplants sustaining technology  --- an innovator's dilemma. One way to solve this is to acquire emerging firms suited for smaller markets..
• If you work for a startup: Find a niche market for your product. Sell your product first, then engineer it later. Be ready to get acquired if you do well, or lose your job if the opposite.

Who should read the book:

Anyone with a business bent of mind and managers in the mid- or late-career at larger and successful firms.

Book Review: Sapiens A Brief History of Humankind

My mom is a devout Buddhist. My dad, not so much. He's agnostic, or maybe he doesn't care at all. Interestingly, though, my siblings and I had been briefly brought to a church in our childhood. I had no idea how and why that'd happen. I'd imagine my parents wanted the kiddos to leave them alone on Sundays. I couldn't care less. "Often one's religion is another's superstition." My committed mom used to claim that she could "feel" things. In the past, we had some arguments about some unexplainable phenomena. Every time I know that I can debunk, or better yet, address many things with a scientific explanation beyond her imagination. Still, I gave up after a while. Partly because there wasn't a need for that, and partially because I don't understand how imagination can be so rooted in her. This book answers part of the question.

Summary

Sapiens is jam-packed with everything you need to know about the history of our species. From the extinction of our cousin Neanderthals to the proving of \(E=mc^2\), Harrari navigated how homo sapiens have dominated and shaped the world we live in today; through a series of biological and social revolutions. How creations of Money, Empires, and Religions (ideologies) united all people of the world; How the discovery of ignorance in the last 500 years matches beautifully with Imperialism, creating Capitalism, Individualism, and Consumerism etc. --- all of which are driven by figments of imaginary orders. In other words, human societies are ruled under some made-up stories, which humans trust others who also believe in the same myths. Unfortunately, these fictitious orders also become the complex societal issues like racism and sexism that we face today. In the end, we question our existences, endlessly pursuit of hedonistic lifestyles, or even happiness, while we forget our past.

Three takeaways from the book:

• Homo Sapiens become the only surviving species through cognitive revolution: brain and language, forming larger communities.
• Three main imaginary orders, namely, money, empires, and religions, emerged to unite even larger communities.
• The scientific revolution in the last 500 years gave rise to a new era, when imperialism loomed to form modern societies.

Who should read the book:

Anyone experiences an existential crisis, or questions about the meaning of life, or wonder if you are happy with the current state of life. Anyone who is curious about their faith (e.g. what happened if you'd believe is something else). Mom, this is for you.