Phil - great commentary on the HP WebOS mess, which happened just after I left my role as HP Fellow. And you are dead to rights in pointing out what went wrong. I watched between 2003 and 2010 how HP's corporate leaders starting with Carly Fiorina dropped so many tech balls (the early one I participated in was that they missed the chance to acquire VMware, which I advised them to grab. Another "we don't get software" mistake.) And then they started laying off all the best minds in HP Labs - who needs research? That was it for me, literally. Hiring Apotheker, after I left, just confirmed the company's mess.
I see you are focused mostly on corporate innovation, and maybe what Gordon Bell called "intrapreneurship" after he left DEC behind. And that's great! Enterprises in the top tier - F100, etc. - die by failing to innovate, even when they have great ideas, and occasionally their C-level can make the difference. However, as Gordon used to point out when he and I were advising such companies, it's really hard for companies like HP or IBM or Xerox, and now Intel, to get out of their own way.
So, I wish you well in starting the Innovators' Network. I think for me personally as a retired tech innovate, it's a bit pricey, but to be honest for C-level innovation executives in enterprises, it's a bargain to access the experience of you and others.
Phil - great commentary on the HP WebOS mess, which happened just after I left my role as HP Fellow. And you are dead to rights in pointing out what went wrong. I watched between 2003 and 2010 how HP's corporate leaders starting with Carly Fiorina dropped so many tech balls (the early one I participated in was that they missed the chance to acquire VMware, which I advised them to grab. Another "we don't get software" mistake.) And then they started laying off all the best minds in HP Labs - who needs research? That was it for me, literally. Hiring Apotheker, after I left, just confirmed the company's mess.
I see you are focused mostly on corporate innovation, and maybe what Gordon Bell called "intrapreneurship" after he left DEC behind. And that's great! Enterprises in the top tier - F100, etc. - die by failing to innovate, even when they have great ideas, and occasionally their C-level can make the difference. However, as Gordon used to point out when he and I were advising such companies, it's really hard for companies like HP or IBM or Xerox, and now Intel, to get out of their own way.
So, I wish you well in starting the Innovators' Network. I think for me personally as a retired tech innovate, it's a bit pricey, but to be honest for C-level innovation executives in enterprises, it's a bargain to access the experience of you and others.
- David P. Reed