Cranky Middle Manager: How to Get Disruptive Without Getting Canned

Wayne Turmel, host of the Cranky Middle Manager show, interviews Michael Urlocker on disruption for middle managers.

Turmel draws on lessons from history, including the epic battle of Agincourt, to set up the discussion on disruptive innovation and how managers can use this methodology today. Highlights from the 31-minute podcast:

• Disruptive innovation is a repeatable management method to produce new growth and to help fight commoditization;
• Typical characteristics of disruptive innovations: Initial inferiority, initial marginal market segment; new attributes that are highly valued in a marginal segment;
• Not just for CEOs: Middle managers can create and manage disruptive innovations, if they avoid the common pitfalls of would-be disruptors;
• Typical (self-defeating) reactions of succesful companies as they are being disrupted;
• A discussion of tools and resources for managers to learn about disruption.

** Resources for Managers**

From The Disruption Group 's set of tools for managing disruption:

1. Getting started: Download a CEO Guide to the Benefits of Disruption (pdf).
2. Communicating: Download a presentation on achieving the benefits (pdf) on disruption strategies.
3. Developing disruptive ideas: Download the Disruption Brainstorm Tool (pdf).
4. Scoring: Download the Disruption ScoreCard (xls) to rate your idea or business.