Tag Archives: Disruption

Apple’s Watch – Offense or Defense?

Posted on March 30, 2018 by

Apple’s watch is the future of the company.  The watch will shrink in size, radio quality will improve, capabilities will grow and eventually watch revenues will pass the iPhone. No, no, no. Apple’s watch is a defensive play. Look for … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Business, Disruption, Invention, Theory | Tagged , , , , , ,

New or Better?

Posted on January 16, 2018 by

When new technologies arise there is a real desire to create a Disruptive Product(TM), to focus on the new and to avoid simply making a better version of the current market leader. Don’t fall into that trap. It is almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Disruption, Innovation, Marketing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Best SaaS Product I Ever Saw was built by a Towtruck Company in 2006

Posted on November 7, 2016 by

In 2002, after joining a former customer in the electronics industry which had raised $30 million, we went through a CRM evaluation.  The VP of Sales and VP of Engineering were at odds over the rate at which we were … Continue reading →

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Is that a Disruptive Prediction? (6 of 7)

Posted on January 24, 2016 by

“And two years later, what come out? PlayStation 2.” – Ali G Some predictions are linear – like that made by Sasha Baron Cohen’s character Ali G above.  Sitting in 1993 it might have been disruptive to predict Sony’s entrance … Continue reading →

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Doing the Math: Munitions & Nonwovens Production

Posted on April 17, 2014 by

Running numbers is crucial to understanding where you are with a new technology, especially if it is a physical product or tied to heavy industry.  Even if you’ve only got three numbers in that initial .xls sheet, your ability to … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Industry, Innovation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Policy and Innovation History (Radar, Manhattan Project and Apollo)

Posted on April 16, 2014 by

Innovation is a newborn baby that politicians love to kiss – regions and municipalities want more of it, but are uncertain of how to proceed.  Metrics are challenging – for the politician and bureaucrat it isn’t clear whether they should … Continue reading →

Posted in Disruption, History, Industry, Invention, Theory | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Nonwovens in Tech News: Feminine Care & Apparel

Posted on March 17, 2014 by

Working with industrial technology often feels like being behind stage at a play – you’re able to see all of the behind the scenes action that enables modern life.  Often times articles in the popular press, and particularly tech news, … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Disruption, History, Industry, Innovation | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Interested in the Carolinas? 12 must read books

Posted on March 14, 2014 by

North Carolina has been our adopted home since 2001 – I’ve lived here longer than anywhere else (despite all the time I’ve spent on the road for work).  It is an interesting state with a long political, commercial and technical … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Products: What We Study

Posted on March 13, 2014 by

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children … Continue reading →

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Define the Mission, then the Vehicle

Posted on March 12, 2014 by

Pat Duggins’ book Final Countdown, which documents NASA’s move to shutdown the Space Shuttle Program repeats an important aviation and aerospace maxim: The mission should define the vehicle, not the vehicle define the mission. Apollo’s mission was to put a … Continue reading →

Posted in Aerospace, History, Industry, Innovation, Invention, Marketing, Materials Science, Theory, VC | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment