Can disruption be useful? Christensen (business administration, Harvard Business School) and his collaborators believe so. They predict industry change using theories of innovation, locating new organizations that use simple, convenient, low-cost innovations to overpower incumbents. Noting that data only describes the past, they assert that working from theories can be useful in predicting such disruptions at an industry, national, or international level. Their examples and case studies include Western Electric, which lost its monopoly over telephone equipment in a lawsuit with a tiny upstart competitor. They also examine the intrusion of discount airlines into a deregulated market, the reasons why new entrants and not established firms created the semiconductor industry, and why for-profit higher education providers are disruptive innovators. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)