Embracing Paradigm Shifts: The Path to Disruptive Innovation
One of my favorite books that I picked up during my college days was Thomas Kuhn’s “Structure of Scientific Revolutions.” Although there are many powerful concepts in this book, the most significant for me is the concept of how paradigms shift in the scientific community. Kuhn references many examples where scientists noticed anomalies that a particular paradigm did not solve. The current or status quo paradigm would brush these anomalies under the proverbial rug until a scientist would begin asking questions and probing as to why the anomalies are occurring. Of course, this person would receive the brunt of the visceral reaction from the defenders of the current view.
Historical Context of Paradigm Shifts
Kuhn provides many examples of this, so for context, we can look at Nicolaus Copernicus. In 1543, he started making the claim that the Earth rotated around the Sun rather than adhering to several centuries of belief that the rotation was geocentric, with the Earth at the center of the known universe. Many ancient cultures had already figured this out, but that knowledge was lost to the European scientific community. This was an example of a popular belief that held the scientific community in check and prevented them from seeing the obvious anomalies that proved their prevailing theory wrong. Popularity, it seems, is the real driving force in scientific consensus rather than a quest for a single objective truth. As you can imagine, Copernicus’ claims were not initially received with great fanfare, but rather disdain and ridicule.
The Birthplace of Disruptive Innovation
This is where I believe disruptive innovation is found. When you have a popular opinion that is generally held by the majority as true, therein lies the innovation. There will always be the unexplainable phenomena that occur, which the currently held beliefs cannot explain. This is the fertile soil in which innovation will be found. When you discover an anomaly, you have discovered the source of a new innovation that will most likely be highly disruptive.
The Tumultuous Transition of Belief Systems
Kuhn calls what happens next as a paradigm shift. Due to the new innovation, people will begin to see the world through a different lens. The old and new views of the world will clash, and the transfer of belief systems will be tumultuous indeed. This is why any entrepreneur at the helm of a startup that is introducing a new disruptive innovation always describes their initial journey as a ‘fun ride.’ So, this is not for the faint of heart; taking on the establishment is always met with resistance.
Finding Opportunities in Resistance
So, do you want to know where you will find the greatest opportunities to discover true innovation? Go to the source that is meeting the most resistance. If your community of experts is resisting a new trend that is emerging, the greater their resistance, the more disruptive the innovation is that you will discover.
