Innovation: The Attacker's Advantage [Paperback]

Richard N. Foster (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This book analyzes why some companies abruptly lose their markets to new competitors and how other companies have avoided this fate. Foster believes that the way companies handle innovation dictates how well they will succeed. He believes that technological discontinuities will increase and that because existing firms are so wedded to technologies which are being pushed to the limit, new firms (the attackers) have an advantage over the established firms. Filled with examples and brief case histories, this work is a good discussion of the importance of innovation for both established and new companies. Despite some technical language, highly recommended. Michael D. Kathman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Collegeville, Minn.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Summit Books (January 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671642243
• ISBN-13: 978-0671642242
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #143,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars THE STRENGHT OF INNOVATION., July 13, 2011

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GUY'S BOOKS (BEDFORDSHIRE, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Innovation: The Attacker's Advantage (Paperback)

This books helped me understand the economic impact of technological innovation on businesses.
Companies that were leaders, saw their leadership disappear, because of technological change.
Most managers believe that the future shall be like today, but it slowly changes, until they lose their leadership. They focus on making their operations more cost effective, don't worry about technological change. Successful companies do the opposite.
Businessmen go down with their business, because they like too much the old ways. When change arrives, customers prefer the new and improved.
Changing technology means changing culture and skills, and that is hard. The defenders make several mistakes, when they see change coming. As a result, they lose their leadership.
The attacker has an advantage, because of its superior productivity, that allow inferior costs of production, therefore lower prices long term.
Several companies manage the technological changes, by attacking themselves, forming joint-ventures, acquiring another company.
Although the book is quite old, it's very interesting and I recommend it.