In Praise of Uncertainty

The information technology explosion was set off by visionaries who thrive on uncertainty. Today that innovation-fueling uncertainty is in danger, a victim of its own success and excess. IT producers have historically built platforms that are useless standing alone, inviting others to parlay them into a variety of useful applications. The first PC makers shipped […]

by

Jonathan Zittrain

by

Jonathan Zittrain

From the Magazine (May 2005)

The information technology explosion was set off by visionaries who thrive on uncertainty. Today that innovation-fueling uncertainty is in danger, a victim of its own success and excess.

A version of this article appeared in the May 2005 issue of Harvard Business Review.

New!

HBR Learning

Decision Making Course

Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Decision Making. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.

Practical ways to improve your decision-making process.

Start Course

Learn More & See All Courses

JZ

Jonathan Zittrain is a professor at Harvard Law School, Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He is the faculty director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society and the author of The Future of the Internet–And How to Stop It.

New!

HBR Learning

Decision Making Course

Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Decision Making. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.

Practical ways to improve your decision-making process.

Start Course

Learn More & See All Courses

In Praise of Uncertainty

Partner Center

Explore HBR

HBR Store

About HBR

Manage My Account

Follow HBR