JOURNAL ARTICLE

Blind to Disruption: Lessons from CEOs Who Missed the Future.

  • Published In: Rotman Management, 2026. P. 100 1 of 3

  • Database: Business Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Blank, Steve 3 of 3

Abstract

The article examines the early 20th-century disruption of the U.S. carriage and wagon industry by the rise of the automobile, highlighting how over 4,000 carriage manufacturers failed to adapt despite the clear technological shift. It details how early automobiles initially resembled carriages but evolved rapidly through innovations like Ford’s Model T and mass production, leading to the collapse of the horse-drawn vehicle ecosystem. Studebaker is noted as the sole carriage maker that successfully transitioned into automobile manufacturing by embracing mobility rather than craftsmanship identity. The article draws parallels between this historical disruption and today’s emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing lessons about business model inertia, cultural identity, and leadership vision relevant to contemporary companies facing transformative technologies. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Rotman Management. 2026/04, p100
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:2293-7684
  • Accession Number:193640792
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