The proliferation of disruptive innovations has made a strong case against fixed business models. Indeed, a growing body of disruptive innovations (by, largely, remarkably young entrepreneurs) are shifting business strategies from one-size-fits-all operation models into more dynamic models adaptable to an increasingly business ecosystem. In recognition of visionary entrepreneurs of all walks and in all areas of human endeavor, Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards has been granting annual awards for most disruptive innovations in a broad range of scientific, business, political and social activities since 2010 ("Honorees," n.d.). In order to highlight latest innovation awards of 2015 and reflect on best innovation, a broad review is performed of 2015 Honorees List. This essay aims, hence, to offer a broad overview of 2015 honorees of Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards and justify choosing one innovation as best.
The 2015 Honorees List, made up of 28 honorees, feature entrepreneurs form all backgrounds. Each one, or group, has managed to achieve a contribution in her / his own area of expertise. However, not all honorees are awarded based on one specific contribution in her / his own field. The Lifetime Achievement Award or an overall award is granted for example, for Peter Greste, Daren walker (Ford Foundation), Jake Burton, Bob Roth (David Lynch Foundation), Bill Magee, Georgette Mulheir and Alyse Nelson based on lifelong contributions in areas of investigative journalism, social entrepreneurship, snowboard business, community healthcare, child care, women leadership respectively – rather than on one specific contribution, project or business. This category falls, predictably, into an older age group and notwithstanding concrete contributions made to communities over years, an endless list of qualified lifelong entrepreneurs could have received Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards 2015.
The second group of honoree entrepreneurs is younger and awarded for more specific projects, featuring mainly: Brad Katsuyama (for founding IEX, an equity marketplace); Jennifer Hyman (for founding Rent the Runway, a sharing economy fashion marketplace); Matthew Putman (for developing multi-purpose, nanometric microscopes); Brian Chesky (for founding Airbnb, a sharing economy accommodation marketplace); Shane Smith (for founding Vice, a multimedia content platform); Reshma Saujani (for founding Girls Who Code, a non-for-profit aimed to close gender employment gaps); Ruzwana Bashir (for founding Peek, a leisure marketplace); Trip Adler (for founding Scribd, a written content sharing platform); and Alec Momont (for founding Drones For Good, a project aimed at redefining drones for more innovative applications). This second group shares, overall, a common vision of introducing disruptive innovations which do not only create value for niche markets as in specific projects (e.g. Peek and Drones For Good) but are, indeed, projected to embrace broader applications across business functions.
One best innovation is, in author's view, is Respecting Choices® program by Gundersen Health System. By offering choice for patients and care providers, Gundersen Health System offsets gaps in current healthcare industry since healthcare remains catered by providers in absence of patient informed choices. In Respecting Choices®, healthcare service is delivered collaboratively and via integrated platforms which ensure care is delivered in accordance to each patient's medical history, case development and, not least, immediate stakeholders, particularly family members ("Respecting Choices® Advance Care Planning," n.d.). In a healthcare market, i.e. U.S., projected for substantial growth for, mainly, demographic reasons, Respecting Choices® represents an innovation projected for double digit growth. Moreover, based on a paradigm shift in catering healthcare service, Respecting Choices® is congruent to broader business patterns promoting increasing input from external clients.
References
Honorees. (n.d.). Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards. Retrieved from http://www.tribecadisruptiveinnovationawards.com/honorees-2/
Respecting Choices® Advance Care Planning. (n.d.). Gundersen Health System. Retrieved from http://www.gundersenhealth.org/respecting-choices
