Knowledge@Wharton: We're here today with Wharton practice professor David Robertson, author of the new book, Brick by Brick: How LEGO Rewrote the Rules of Innovation and Conquered the Global Toy Industry. David, thanks for being with us today.
David Robertson: Thanks for having me.
Knowledge@Wharton: I had a chance to read the book. The story of LEGO's transition from a small company that made wooden toys to a worldwide giant is pretty interesting. Could you briefly discuss its origins?
Robertson: Sure. It (started with) a failed carpenter in 1932. Denmark was in the midst of a recession like much of the world, and a carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen was having trouble getting the wood he needed to make furniture. So he took scraps of wood and made toys for kids, which actually did pretty well. He turned that into a business and started LEGO in 1932.
To read the full, original article click on this link: How LEGO Stopped Thinking Outside the Box and Innovated Inside the Brick - Knowledge@Wharton
