The propensity for Christensen-type disruptive innovation in the electron device industry

A survey of participants in the electron device industry has been conducted to evaluate the industry's propensity for disruptive innovation as described by Clayton Christensen in The Innovator's Dilemma. The survey instrument was constructed by including questions for each of Christensen's five principles of innovation. A sample size of n=450 industry participants was obtained. We observe that the electron device industry, on average, exhibits a relatively low propensity to take advantage of these principles of disruptive innovation. Industry participant responses regarding their firm's behavior display both reluctance to embrace the principles fully and some heterogeneity in the principles they value most. As such, electron device industry firms that use these insights to plan disruptive attacks on, and to predict disruptive attacks from, others in this industry are positioned for relative competitive advantage.