How Outsiders Spark Innovation and Challenge Norms: New Research From MIT Sloan Management Review

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Mar 11, 2025, 08:01 ET

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Successful disruptors often start on the fringes, dismissed for their unconventional ideas or pursuing paths others see as fruitless. There is an upside to their outsider status, as described in MIT Sloan Management Review.

In "Lessons Learned From Outsider Innovators," Simone Ferriani, a professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Bologna and Bayes Business School, City. St George's, University of London, and Gino Cattani, professor of management and organizations at the Stern School of Business, New York University, share decades-long research detailing how those who operate outside the margins and the mainstream often produce the most impactful innovations.

"There is a dual nature of outsiders' innovation: They have the ability to break free from conventional thinking, but they face skepticism and bias from those rooted in established norms," notes Ferriani. "They also have the ability to find inflection points and allies to bridge the divide."

Outsiders, be they from different disciplines, geographies, or sociological backgrounds, are often unburdened by the ingrained norms and expectations that constrain insiders, and thereby uniquely positioned to connect disparate thoughts, see options that others have overlooked, and advance new perspectives that have the potential of challenging, if not altering, the status quo.

"Lessons Learned From Outside Innovators" examines how individuals and organizations can harness the power of outsider thinking to drive creativity, disrupt industries, and overcome institutional resistance. The authors challenge readers to look outside but act inside, fight groupthink, translate the outside into the inside language, nurture a receptive culture, and ride the inflection points.

Outsiders challenge conventional wisdom with a fresh perspective that sparks breakthroughs. While it can be daunting to be that voice, research suggests that even the support of one like-minded champion can break the chains of conformity.

"A big hurdle for individuals and organizations lies not only in identifying original thinkers but also in empowering them — amplifying their voices, supporting their efforts, and fostering environments where atypical ideas can take root and thrive," added Cattani. "Looking outside of disciplines, silos, and industries can often prove fruitful if all parties are open."

Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned executive, the edge is where some of the greatest opportunities often hide, and harnessing an outsider's perspective can be your key to unveiling them.

Read the full article with data and statistics in the MIT Sloan Management Review article "Lessons Learned From Outside Innovators," which publishes at 8 a.m. ET on March 11, 2025.

About the Authors
Simone Ferriani is a professor of entrepreneurship at the Management Department of the University of Bologna and Bayes Business School, City, St George's, University of London. Gino Cattani is a professor of management and organizations at the Stern School of Business at New York University.

About MIT Sloan Management Review
MIT Sloan Management Review is an independent, research-based magazine and digital platform for business leaders published at the MIT Sloan School of Management. MIT SMR explores how leadership and management are transforming in a disruptive world. We help thoughtful leaders capture the exciting opportunities — and face down the challenges — created as technological, societal, and environmental forces reshape how organizations operate, compete, and create value.

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