Understanding the Differences Between Sustaining and Disruptive Innovation - by ChatGPT

ChatGPT

There is a lot of noise around ChatGPT lately, both highly positive and highly negative. The way I see it, ChatGPT is not a 'product' but rather a tool with which OpenAI can let their language model interact with the public and see how it performs. And performing it does. The language model is conversational and easy to talk to. It can respond to conversational questions rather than constructed queries to search for information. The results are given back in a conversational form, information snippet, article or piece of code, or translation depending on the question. It is not informaiton from one specific source, but rather the internet consensus of what is out there. The time it takes to gather information and return it in a easy to process way is astonishingly quick, it makes interacting with it dangerously addictive :).

It being the consensus of what is out there is what reflects in the results. It is not always accurate but can give you insights. Insights on how far (ahead) 'we' are in terms of general knowledge out there, or where we need to put the work in. It does make life so much easier and there are so many ways to use a tool like this. Translations, research, generating code, a starting point for articles, understanding topics. People are already building on top of ChatGPT with many different use cases. That is how you create value; Interacting with people, testing and trying new ways to make it into relevant and valuable products.

I agree, it is not perfect (yet), nor is it meant as a product to help you with something specific. It is an experiment to help OpenAi understand how it interacts with us, and the internet. It is the prospect of possibilities and the way we can enhance our lives with it that is exciting. It is up to us how we use it for good, for excelling at what we can achieve. And so far, I am amazed at the opportunities that lie ahead.

Please enjoy this article that ChatGPT wrote for me when I asked:

if I wanted to explain the difference between sustaining innovation and disruptive or new business model innovation and why you need a different system to manage these, how would you turn that into a blog post?

Understanding the Differences Between Sustaining and Disruptive Innovation.

And Why Different Systems are Needed to Manage Them

Innovation is a vital part of any organization's growth and success. However, not all innovations are created equal. Sustaining and disruptive innovation are two distinct types of innovation that require different approaches to management. In this post, we will explore the differences between these two types of innovation and explain why different systems are needed to manage them effectively.

Sustaining Innovation:

Sustaining innovation refers to incremental improvements to existing products or services. These improvements are often made to meet the changing needs of customers or to improve the efficiency of the production process. Sustaining innovation is focused on maintaining the status quo, rather than creating new markets or disrupting existing ones.

Disruptive or New Business Model Innovation:

On the other hand, disruptive innovation refers to the creation of new products or services that disrupt existing markets. These innovations often involve new business models that change the way products or services are delivered to customers. Disruptive innovations are often game-changers and create new markets and value networks.

Why Different Systems are Needed:

Sustaining and disruptive innovation require different systems to manage them effectively. Sustaining innovation can be managed using traditional tools and processes, such as Lean Six Sigma or Total Quality Management. These systems are designed to optimize efficiency and improve existing products or services.

Disruptive innovation, on the other hand, requires a more flexible and experimental approach. Tools such as design thinking, lean startup, and agile development are better suited for managing disruptive innovation. These tools focus on experimentation, prototyping, and testing to validate new ideas.

Conclusion:

Innovation is a vital part of any organization's growth and success. However, not all innovations are created equal. Sustaining and disruptive innovation are two distinct types of innovation that require different approaches to management. Understanding the differences between these two types of innovation and why different systems are needed to manage them effectively is crucial for organizations that want to stay competitive in today's fast-paced business environment.