{"id":5501,"date":"2025-05-28T17:36:18","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T17:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aomtodayprod.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=5501"},"modified":"2025-07-09T15:48:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T15:48:12","slug":"why-success-can-be-the-enemy-of-innovation-in-the-age-of-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aom.org\/today\/why-success-can-be-the-enemy-of-innovation-in-the-age-of-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Success Can Be the Enemy of Innovation in the Age of AI"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Jason Collins<\/a><\/p>\n

A new Pew Research Center report<\/a> reveals that public optimism remains low regarding the potential impact of AI in the workplace. However, refusing to work with new technologies can cause even the largest organizations to fail as this technology changes the game across many industries.<\/p>\n

Academy of Management Scholar Wendy Smith<\/a> of the University of Delaware reveals that it isn\u2019t the small businesses that are most at risk, but rather larger organizations that choose to rely on what they know works. Smith calls this the paradox of success.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe companies who are at the top of their market have the most to lose and therefore don\u2019t want to take risks and thus are the most entrenched in what they already do,\u201d Smith said. \u201cResearchers call this the \u2018paradox of success\u2019 where successful companies are the ones that fail to adopt new technologies and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because smaller organizations don\u2019t have this burden, they have nothing keeping them from trying new things and adopting new technologies such as AI and robotic process automation. History shows us that success can be an enemy of innovation. Smith draws parallels to brands such as Kodak and Polaroid, which failed to make the digital photography transition.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlackBerry was this amazing early force of the smartphone but could not compete when brands like Apple came into the market with updated technologies,\u201d Smith said. \u201cBlockbuster Video couldn\u2019t make the transition from VHS tapes and DVDs to streaming when Netflix then took over.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, we see that story happen again and again and again,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

If the past has taught us anything, it is that relying on past success without monitoring new technologies, tracking consumers\u2019 preferences, and cultivating boldness in strategic planning prevents innovation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we’re going to see the same thing now,\u201d Smith said. \u201cAnd so there is wisdom in \u2018Don\u2019t throw out the baby with the bathwater.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s totally new technology, but leaders should be learning from history what it means to innovate within an existing company,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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