CSUSM/UCSD JPD - EDLD 730/740 Class Leadership Blog. This blog will be a place to gather course information, connect to peers and professors, and to share reflections and research!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Understanding the Theory of Disruption
Explain in 300 words or less your understanding of Christensen's Theory of Disruption. Consider this the elevator speech to someone who has no idea what the theory is. Use one education example from your past experience or current reality to illustrate the disruption. Leave a thoughtful response to 4 of your peers' posts by the beginning of class on October 8.
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The theory of disruption provides a framework from business to education where it allows for education to be available to more people at a lower cost. In essence, it sounds easy, but it is difficult to implement. Education institutions usually work under a very structured hierarchy. What is the norm and has been done for many years, it is hard to let go for the members of these institutions from administrators to faculty members. The culture amid the inner circle is one of ownership and sometimes borders into arrogance. Nevertheless, if these institutions want to survive in the future they are going to have to adapt to the disrupting technological flow. Then, if the institution must adapt to the ever increasing wave of technology, does a new model of making business become a must? In other words, Is it necessary for an institution totally to change its DNA reinvent itself) or small mutations in its everyday business could suffice to keep it afloat and serve its student population well enough to keep them satisfied?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, an education institution must reinvent itself by utterly changing its DNA. It structural models of transferring knowledge have to be ever changing to keep up with a changing world. It is true that deep rooted traditions can be a source of pride; however, nowadays where the sharing of knowledge is becoming global in nature, disruptive innovation must be incorporated into the traditional way of doing the business of education.
When an institution is willing to do business in a more unconventional way, its mission becomes more meaningful because more people can be served and more people can draw more benefits from it. On the other hand, the institution can benefit by been able to share the knowledge more broadly without forfeiting quality.
Ooh...love the comparison of education and changing DNA! I agree that education must be preparing students for the world they will live in not the one where they currently reside.
ReplyDeleteHi Ana,
ReplyDeleteYou left a comment for what should have been a post on your blog. I can show you how to fix this tomorrow ;-)
Christensen’s “Theory of Disruptive Innovation” is a slight of hand. It utilizes the big ideas of a very successful innovative concept and tweaks the idea just a bit to make it more attractive and useful to the consumer. The innovation is a solution or potential solution. It may be a solution to an existing problem which has not been realized or actualized; nevertheless it is a progressive solution. The solution may be progressive wherein a problem is proposed which no one realized was in existence. The problem may have been latent, not yet have been verbalized or acknowledged. For instance, I have always wanted to have the ability to know what my dog is doing or how she is feeling while I am at work or in class. This is a problem, because I am unable to call her and ask her how things are going while I am at work.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was at the Computer Museum in South San Francisco a month or so ago, I saw a product called Puppy Tweets. This contraption is an electronic tag placed on the collar of an individual’s dog. The tag communicates messages to the owner’s computer then it tweets to a twitter account regarding the feelings and status of the dog. The tag ascertains these messages according to the sound and motion sensor that is part of the tag. The tag communicates messages such as, “I am doing this because I can.” Essentially the tag reacts to movement of the dog. If the dog is moving, barking, etc. it will produce messages relaying the activity of the dog.
Disruptive innovation provides solutions for future problems; problems that have not yet been conceived. I view it as a mediating factor one in which the creator is translating a foreign or new concept in such a manner that the translation begins to usurp the actual text, thought, or statement translated in the first place. The translation creates opportunities for expressing new needs.
My desire is to create a disruptive innovation in the area of negotiations with unions, particularly the Classified School Employees Association (CSEA). How do I do that? I need to get under the employees’ skin. I must use their ideas, thoughts, and complaints to fuel the creation of an innovative solution which will rock their world.
On Monday, I have the opportunity to begin this quest. We scheduled a professional development day for both certificated and classified staffs. One of the sessions I created for our classified staff is “Voice of the Classified Employee.” I am leading this session and am planning to reveal our classified employees needs in relationship to their jobs, the district and their own professional objectives.
Ana,
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting the statement you made regarding "small mutations to keep a business afloat." You have creatively described how minor changes are made to support the implementation of new ideas. These minor changes are the mutations which eventually create organisms which are hardier, etc.
Rebekah,
ReplyDeleteYou also left a comment when it should have been a blog post. I can show you how to fix this in class.
Jeff,
ReplyDeleteYes, I look forward to increased expertise in the area of blogging.