Disruption

What is Disruption?

Disruption is a significant change that challenges established ways of operating, creating new opportunities for some organisations while threatening the viability of others. Disruption may arise from technological advances, changing customer expectations, new business models, regulatory change or broader economic, social or environmental forces.

Disruption is often viewed as a sudden event. In reality, it is usually the visible consequence of pressures that have been building over time. Disruptive events can range from relatively minor operational setbacks, such as a supplier failing to deliver, to existential threats, such as a fundamental shift in customer expectations, technological innovation or regulatory change.

Intelligent organisations recognise that disruption is rarely an isolated occurrence but a manifestation of deeper structural change. Rather than reacting once disruption becomes apparent, they continuously sense emerging pressures, adapt their operating model and evolve before change is forced upon them.

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