How can senior military leaders successfully implement disruptive innovations while simultaneously managing the demands of sustaining innovations and global operational commitments? Terry Pierce, a military expert, investigates the historical patterns of military innovation by categorizing them into 'disruptive' and 'sustaining' types. He utilizes historical case studies to demonstrate how leaders have historically navigated institutional resistance and the necessity of camouflage to protect radical new warfighting concepts. The work provides a framework for understanding the tension between incremental technological improvements and fundamental shifts in military doctrine.

Experts and military professionals frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the organizational dynamics of defense innovation. Readers note the clarity with which the author distinguishes between incremental improvements and systemic change in military strategy.