The business model that sustained private U.S. colleges cannot survive" (150). This snippet of the article is consistent with the author's belief that American higher education must conform. .
Within the theory of innovation, there are two types of innovation. There is sustaining innovation and disruptive innovation. Sustaining innovation is making something bigger or better. Nothing new is being created. Instead, changes are being made to the old product in order to enhance it. Examples of sustaining innovation can be seen when examining televisions. At its infancy, televisions were very large and bulky. The images were pixelated and very unclear. As time went on, the industry continued to make changes to their product. Now we have high definition, 3D, and even touch screen televisions. Disruptive innovation on the other hand looks to disturb the bigger/better ideology by making something that is inferior to traditional offerings but more affordable and accessible. Disruptive innovation is usually meant for a new market. It is very popular amongst non-consumers because such products are finally accessible to them. An example of disruptive innovation can be seen when comparing department stores and discount retailers. Macy's is a department store and can be somewhat expensive. Not everyone can afford to shop at Macy's. Kohl's is a discount department store and the products they offer are very similar but just at a more affordable price. So if disruptive innovations are usually inferior to traditional products, why are they such a threat? They are such a threat because disruptive innovations improve by their own sustaining innovations. This is the case with department stores verses discount retailers. Discount retailers continuously improve until they have the same exact products as department stores but still at a competitive price. This in turn attracts consumers who would usually shop at the big department stores.