TechExec 8: Disruptive Innovation, B.S. Asymmetry Principle, and Carbon Removal and Sequestration

(Total read time: 7 minutes)

Hey there,

Welcome to the 8th edition of TechExec - the newsletter that turbocharges your growth to become a Tech Executive!

This week’s BLTs are:

💼 B - Disruptive Innovation

💝 L - B.S. Asymmetry Principle

🤖 T - Carbon Removal and Sequestration

Before we dive in, I have an exciting update for you all!

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Now to the main content …

As promised, here are this week’s BLTs:

💼 B - a Business concept/theory/story

💝 L - a lifestyle advice

🤖 T - a Tech explainer

💼 B - Disruptive Innovation

One of my major regrets at HBS was not being able to learn from the legendary Clay Christensen. For several years, he taught a course called "Building and Sustaining a Successful Enterprise” before passing away in 2020. The core topic of the course was a framework he coined, called “Disruptive Innovation”. While Christensen dedicated all his career to writing several thousand words on this topic, the crux of the disruption theory lies in this quote of his:

Basically, every large, successful enterprise has a set of extremely profitable customers. The products are built around them. But that also means that there might be a group of underserved customers who may have slightly different requirements, and those needs are not being met entirely. On the flip side, there would be customers who just needed the bare minimum of features but had to pay for all the bells and whistles that came with the product (overserved). This gives disruptors opportunities to tailor products to either underserved or overserved customers and grab initial market share. Incumbents choose not to respond quickly because who would change the product that works well with the core customers? But slowly, the disruptor moves upmarket, taking everything away from the naive incumbent.

So, what should disruptors and incumbents actually do when faced with this thrilling phenomenon?

Disruptors are daring renegades, the agents of change. They challenge the status quo and bring fresh ideas to the table. But beware, for with great power comes great responsibility. They should ensure that their innovations are sustainable and don't just cause temporary chaos. Disruptors should keep learning from their customers' needs and continuously improve their offerings.

For incumbents, change can be frightening. Instead of resisting change and clinging to their old ways like stubborn mules, they should embrace it! They should learn from these disruptors and adapt their strategies accordingly. Partnering with innovators or investing in research and development can help incumbents stay ahead of the game.

💝 L - The BS Asymmetry Principle

The B.S. Asymmetry Principle, also known as Brandolini's Law, is a profoundly insightful concept that captures the essence of a four-word phrase brimming with both humor and wisdom. The principle itself is a testament to the human condition: the idea that the energy required to refute B.S. is an order of magnitude greater than the energy it takes to produce it. Simply put, it's easier to spew nonsense than to debunk it.

This happens a lot. You are at a dinner event. Your one conspiracy theorist friend has had one too many glasses of organic, fair-trade, biodynamic wine. He brought his friends too. As the conversation turns to one of the topics you are extremely passionate about, you're hit with a tsunami of theories filled with buzzwords. Suddenly, it dawns on you that you've stumbled upon a goldmine of B.S., and the urge to debunk this avalanche of misinformation becomes overwhelming.

But it’s not going to be easy. While your fellow partygoers effortlessly rattle off their dubious claims, you're left scrambling to find evidence-based counterarguments — a task that's as time-consuming as it is frustrating. But something inside you keeps you going, even though your attempts to restore rationality are met with smug smiles and condescending nods.

The beauty of the B.S. Asymmetry Principle lies in its universality. It applies to everything from politics and economics to science and spirituality. In fact, one could argue that it's more prevalent now than ever before, thanks to the advent of social media, a breeding ground for misinformation.

So how do we navigate this treacherous ocean of B.S.? For starters, we can arm ourselves with knowledge and critical thinking skills. And when we inevitably find ourselves face-to-face with a purveyor of B.S., we can take solace in the fact that we're not alone in our quest to debunk the nonsense. There is a good chance you won’t convince others. But it's not about winning the battle; it's about having the courage to fight it in the first place.

🤖 T - Carbon Removal and Sequestration

Carbon removal and sequestration are like the dynamic duo of the fight against climate change. They might sound similar, but they have some key differences. So, let's break it down!

🔀Carbon Removal: It’s all about “magically” pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Think of it as the ultimate detox for our planet!

Pros? It can help reverse climate change and reduce the concentration of CO2. Drawbacks? Some methods can be energy-intensive, costly, or require a lot of space. Some ways to do that include:

• Direct Air Capture: Sucking carbon out of thin air! Literally.

• Enhanced Weathering: Using natural processes to speed up the carbon removal process.

• Afforestation: Planting trees like there's no tomorrow! (Well, actually, there is a tomorrow.)

⬇️Carbon Sequestration: This is the responsible caretaker, safely locking away carbon where it can't cause trouble. Sequestration occurs through natural processes like photosynthesis or through artificial methods like carbon capture and storage (CCS). It's like hiding the carbon in nature's secret vault!

Pros? It can slow down global warming and has the potential for long-term storage. Drawbacks? CCS is still in its infancy and needs more research and investment. Some prevalent methods:

• Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS): Generate energy from biomass while capturing and storing CO2

• Ocean Fertilization: Giving the ocean an iron-rich diet to boost its CO2 absorption powers.

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Until next time!

Gaurav