Research and news headlines are replete with the idea that traditional large companies can’t innovate, and that smaller digital companies will render many larger ones extinct. While we’ve seen numerous startups of the last thirty years not only disrupt businesses but become the megacorporations of today, we wondered whether this disruption is accelerating with the momentum of digital revolution. In particular, we wanted to see whether large established corporations are being increasingly displaced by new technologies, or whether they’re actually leveraging digital and other new technologies to innovate and grow.
The Gap Between Large and Small Companies Is Growing. Why?
The idea that traditional large companies can’t innovate, and that smaller digital companies will render many of them extinct, is everywhere. But is this disruption is accelerating with the momentum of digital revolution? Researchers wanted to see whether large established corporations are being increasingly displaced by new technologies, or whether they’re actually leveraging digital and other new technologies to innovate and grow. Contrary to the popular notion, they find waning evidence for the idea that large companies do not innovate and that their business will soon be disrupted by small firms. large companies are thriving, investing in innovation and intangible assets at an increasing pace, while the investment and growth opportunity set of small companies is shrinking, with their nimbleness and grit is increasingly under pressure.