Despite being highly successful with it's current strategy, Intel is shifting to a new one. Rather than being upset, Andy Grove believes the move sticks with the spirit of Intel. Re-inventing your company while you are still on top – that takes guts.
Don’t you love business journalism.
If you’re a rich former executive known for your “legendary wrath” and expected to give a “tongue-lashing of epic proportions” you are called “revered and charismatic.”
If you were just some rank and file hothead or old crank I’ll bet you’d get called something else.
Sure Grove deserves many accolades (and some criticism if that rep was earned) but business reporting should strive to be a cut above Entertainment Tonight.
Otellini’s move really isn’t all that different than what Grove did when he moved from memories to microprocessors. It is strange that the media would frame it as Otellini going against the direction Grove took Intel, and Grove surprisingly approving of the decision. I guess they needed the drama.
The thing is, to me the key story here is that Intel has a history of, and continues to, make their current products obsolete. The shift strategies when they are on top, not when it’s too late (like most other companies)
I think this is interesting because many great companies have done this. I just read about Rockefeller who cannibalized the rail car portion of his business to build oil pipelines. He knew that if he was going to stay competitive, he had to continue to innovate to stay ahead of his competitors.
Jason,
Exactly. That strategy seems to be successful for those that dare try it. So why hasn’t it become more popular? Fear over logic, I guess.