"embracing self-cannibalization"

O meu primeiro superior hierárquico no meu primeiro emprego a sério, tinha pânico de fazer experiências em produtos que funcionavam.
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A empresa fabricava um produto para uma marca de automóveis da gama média-alta há mais de 20 anos e nunca tinha mexido na receita. Em 20 anos muitos ingredientes novo tinham aparecido, com um desempenho técnico muito superior, mas ninguém estava autorizado a fazer mudanças.
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Até que um concorrente alemão apresenta ao cliente uma versão muito melhorada do produto.
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Pânico!!!

"What is the secret that allows these incumbents to fend off the startups aiming to displace them?
The answer is deceptively simple: embracing self-cannibalization. Self-cannibalization occurs when a company chooses to proactively replace one product or process with another that is potentially worth less. Forward-looking incumbents recognize the need to cannibalize their own products, rather than leaving it to other startups, who are more than happy to take on the challenge.
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Embracing this approach isn’t easy – it doesn’t always seem natural to talk about how to replace profitable businesses. But there are four rules which can help managers of all walks of an organization instill the principle in their day-to-day work, in order to make self-cannibalization successful in the long run.
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Rule #1: Get into the habit of setting up new business units that compete with the old
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Rule #2: Find a balance between derivative products, platform upgrades, and breakthrough innovation
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Rule #3: Create a bypass mechanism to pitch ideas to the top
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Rule #4: Create a corporate goal with a percent of revenue earmarked to new products"

Trechos retirados de "The Best Companies Aren’t Afraid to Replace Their Most Profitable Products"