Overcoming the Innovator’s Paradox

Authors

• Jeff Dyer, Brigham Young University - ProvoFollow
• Nathan Furr, INSEAD
• Mike Hendron, Brigham Young University - Provo

Keywords

innovation capital, entrepreneurial support, impression amplifiers

Abstract

Having a great idea is essential to innovation, but that’s only half of what’s needed. Securing the resources to implement the idea is just as important — and potentially more difficult. The inventor Nikola Tesla, for example, came up with several transformative ideas — for electric induction motors, wireless telegraphy, radios, and remote control — but he died penniless because he couldn’t line up the resources to commercialize them. In contrast, Thomas Edison, arguably less brilliant, died wealthy and famous because he was good at both coming up with ideas and winning the necessary support to turn them into reality.

Original Publication Citation

Dyer, Jeffrey H., Mike Hendron and Nathan Furr (2020). “Overcoming the Innovator’s Paradox: How Entrepreneurs and Innovators Win Buy-In for their Innovative Ideas.” MIT Sloan Management Review, Fall 2020 Issue, Reprint #62117.

BYU ScholarsArchive Citation

Dyer, Jeff; Furr, Nathan; and Hendron, Mike, "Overcoming the Innovator’s Paradox" (2020). Faculty Publications. 9225.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/9225

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2020

Publisher

MIT Sloan Management Review

Language

English

College

Marriott School of Business

Department

Marketing

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Copyright Use Information

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/