Disrupting Time: Industrial combat, espionage, and the downfall of a great American company

In the fall of 1876, two Swiss spies conducted some of the most covert and consequential industrial espionage in history, changing the course of the global watch industry forever. Their story has remained secret for 146 years.

Set during the Centennial Exhibition in 1876, a great world's fair that took place in Philadelphia, Disrupting Time details the never-before-told story of Jacques David and Theo Gribi. Having attended the Centennial Exhibition and witnessed the powerful Waltham Watch Company's frighteningly novel assembly line exhibit, they knew it spelled the end of their Swiss industry. Rather than be deterred, Gribi and David were commissioned by their fellow Swiss watchmakers to acquire the secrets of America's technology sector - the American watch industry. Using disguises, agent recruitments, and other classic methods of espionage, these spies conducted one of the most covert and consequential industrial heists in history, documenting it in a 130-page report. Their work would guide the subsequent revolution of the Swiss watch industry from an artisanal art to industrial production. Their espionage and reports would remain out of the public view for over a century.

Disrupting Time relies on original sources to weave together this previously untold story. Using the archival reports and letters of the spies, the Waltham Watch Company, and records from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, this book details a fascinating tale of cutthroat competition, industrial espionage, societal development, and a great world's fair. The competition in this era was so intense it was even referred to as "combat of industry" by contemporary observers.

Disrupting Time is the account of a remarkable turn of events and strategic choices that put the Swiss and American watch industries on entirely different trajectories. Had the events of 1876 never happened, we would know little of Swiss watches today.

The themes of this book are explored through the eyes of Victorian-era spies and the technology leaders of their time. Their lessons remain highly relevant in the 21st century where corporate espionage and diminishing competitive advantage continue to impact leading companies.

About the Author: Aaron Stark is the author of the book Disrupting Time: Industrial combat, espionage, and the downfall of a great American company. He is also the co-author of the Harvard Business School strategy case study "Stealing Time: America's disruption of the Swiss watch industry" (available through Harvard Business Publishing). Before entering business, he was an assistant professor of economics at West Point, with a specialization in finance. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School with a focus on finance and business strategy, and a BS in Economics from West Point. He is a veteran of the US Army with two combat tours in Afghanistan, serving as an Apache helicopter pilot.

Author: Aaron Stark
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: 12/08/2022
Pages: 248
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.56d
ISBN: 9798367320862

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