Comments on: IBM: The 'next big thing' no longer exists

Era of technology breakthroughs for their own sake rather than for profit is over, says innovation exec Nicholas Donofrio.

[Stan Johnson]

Nicholas Donofrio, Yes he is an idiot.

This guy needs to grow a cell. He should lose his job.

[Stan Johnson]

Nicholas Donofrio, Yes he is an idiot.

This guy needs to grow a cell. He should lose his job.

[Laserdisc]

Donofrio is correct just misunderstood...

He is absolutely right from his point of view. The next big thing will not come from large multi-national corporations and therefore in his eyes no longer exists. Corporate culture like IBM's just simply doesn't allow for such outstanding creativity to exist.
And that folks is my .02 cents.

[Stan Johnson]

you are wrong

just my 2 cents

[Laserdisc]

Donofrio is correct just misunderstood...

He is absolutely right from his point of view. The next big thing will not come from large multi-national corporations and therefore in his eyes no longer exists. Corporate culture like IBM's just simply doesn't allow for such outstanding creativity to exist.
And that folks is my .02 cents.

[Stan Johnson]

you are wrong

just my 2 cents

[ordaj]

Has he informed Wall Street and the VCs?

He could save them all a ton of money.

[ordaj]

Has he informed Wall Street and the VCs?

He could save them all a ton of money.

[Johnny Mnemonic]

Everything that can be invented has been invented...

In 1899, then Patent Commissioner, Charles H. Duell
reportedly announced that "everything that can be
invented has been invented." Obviously, he was
wrong as is Mr. Donofrio. I tend to agree that with
the stifling patent climate in this country the
next Big Thing is likely to emerge outside of the
US, but, there will be a "next big thing". It is
the nature of human progress. Inevitable.

[rbprice]

What is a BIG invention?

DO you REALLY believe the iPOD is a BIG invention? Right up there with the wheel, the steam engine, and the automobile? I believe that there are some BIG inventions left, but they are far away in the future (harnessing the Neutron, teleporting, cloning humans).. but I think the last BIG invention may have been the transistor or vacuum tube... everything else has been built on BIG inventions... most of which were thought of decades or centuries ago

[Johnny Mnemonic]

Everything that can be invented has been invented...

In 1899, then Patent Commissioner, Charles H. Duell
reportedly announced that "everything that can be
invented has been invented." Obviously, he was
wrong as is Mr. Donofrio. I tend to agree that with
the stifling patent climate in this country the
next Big Thing is likely to emerge outside of the
US, but, there will be a "next big thing". It is
the nature of human progress. Inevitable.

[rbprice]

What is a BIG invention?

DO you REALLY believe the iPOD is a BIG invention? Right up there with the wheel, the steam engine, and the automobile? I believe that there are some BIG inventions left, but they are far away in the future (harnessing the Neutron, teleporting, cloning humans).. but I think the last BIG invention may have been the transistor or vacuum tube... everything else has been built on BIG inventions... most of which were thought of decades or centuries ago

[Azstone]

It's sad day for IBM and for the U.S.A.

I really feel sorry for the USA when the executive VP for innovation of one of the largest and most influential technology firms in the country (and the world) makes a statement that the only innovation left is in business process models. This reminds me of the same line of thinking as Nicholas Carrs' IT is Dead. I mean just look around ... Google reinvented search .... identity theft and individual network rights seem ripe for areas of innovation ... Intel has great promise with WiMax ... Honda is building care giving robots ... Toyota is leading the way with fuel efficient hybrids .... even Microsoft research is pushing ahead in computer languages with their C-Omega language. This is really, really sad .... IBM used to fund so much fundamental research ... what about superconducting quantum computing ... Sam Palmisano and the IBM Board should be looking for a new EVP of innovation.

[Azstone]

It's sad day for IBM and for the U.S.A.

I really feel sorry for the USA when the executive VP for innovation of one of the largest and most influential technology firms in the country (and the world) makes a statement that the only innovation left is in business process models. This reminds me of the same line of thinking as Nicholas Carrs' IT is Dead. I mean just look around ... Google reinvented search .... identity theft and individual network rights seem ripe for areas of innovation ... Intel has great promise with WiMax ... Honda is building care giving robots ... Toyota is leading the way with fuel efficient hybrids .... even Microsoft research is pushing ahead in computer languages with their C-Omega language. This is really, really sad .... IBM used to fund so much fundamental research ... what about superconducting quantum computing ... Sam Palmisano and the IBM Board should be looking for a new EVP of innovation.

[Don_Dodge]

It just doesn't look BIG to IBM

The Next Big Thing does exist...it just doesn't look BIG to IBM. That is a common problem with large companies. When you have revenues of $40B to $100B no one thing will move the needle. Nothing looks big or interesting.

Innovative or disruptive technologies are viewed as a threat to the core revenue stream, rather than promising new opportunities. This is the premise of The Innovators Dilemma by Clayton Christensen.

I wrote a blog about some of the hot start-ups I am seeing...any one of which could be The Next Big Thing. http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2006/03/the_next_big_th.html

[Don_Dodge]

It just doesn't look BIG to IBM

The Next Big Thing does exist...it just doesn't look BIG to IBM. That is a common problem with large companies. When you have revenues of $40B to $100B no one thing will move the needle. Nothing looks big or interesting.

Innovative or disruptive technologies are viewed as a threat to the core revenue stream, rather than promising new opportunities. This is the premise of The Innovators Dilemma by Clayton Christensen.

I wrote a blog about some of the hot start-ups I am seeing...any one of which could be The Next Big Thing. http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2006/03/the_next_big_th.html

[ordaj]

Of course, he could be posturing

It could be an angle because of the concern about patent trolls and our broken system. Something along those lines.

[ordaj]

Of course, he could be posturing

It could be an angle because of the concern about patent trolls and our broken system. Something along those lines.

FIND THIS GUY ANOTHER JOB

Executive Vice President of innovation??
IBM needs to hand this guy his walkin papers.

FIND THIS GUY ANOTHER JOB

Executive Vice President of innovation??
IBM needs to hand this guy his walkin papers.

[leonbev]

He's right for IBM, anyway...

It seems that IBM stopped trying to innovate truly new technologies since ever since Lou left. Now it's all about making fractional improvements to existing products, and cutting costs by outsourcing everything possible. And they wonder why the stock hasn't gone up lately :(

[leonbev]

He's right for IBM, anyway...

It seems that IBM stopped trying to innovate truly new technologies since ever since Lou left. Now it's all about making fractional improvements to existing products, and cutting costs by outsourcing everything possible. And they wonder why the stock hasn't gone up lately :(

[Blito]

We are at the end of the Gene Pool but that's very good

OK so we have all the tech except uploading
ourselves and living forever which is just around
the corner. Instant spacetravel is being figured
out too but what after that?
Well we have to enjoy what we've invented.
Invention is boring and frusterating. After about
the 5th album a rock band is done and the just
happily recycle what they have invented. But we
can hyper-invent or innovate which is basically
what I call relavant inventing or invention on-
demand meaning creating things for certain
situations that arise out of neccesity. Because
we have so many choices with all the inventions
it gives us more time to fine tune them to our
specific situation. Where before we wanted to
just get to the next level now we are enjoying the
levels
We shouldn't be inventing just to invent so we
can say I invented something. I would rather live
forever and say this is my area of expertise and
just do it, then wait.

[Blito]

We are at the end of the Gene Pool but that's very good

OK so we have all the tech except uploading
ourselves and living forever which is just around
the corner. Instant spacetravel is being figured
out too but what after that?
Well we have to enjoy what we've invented.
Invention is boring and frusterating. After about
the 5th album a rock band is done and the just
happily recycle what they have invented. But we
can hyper-invent or innovate which is basically
what I call relavant inventing or invention on-
demand meaning creating things for certain
situations that arise out of neccesity. Because
we have so many choices with all the inventions
it gives us more time to fine tune them to our
specific situation. Where before we wanted to
just get to the next level now we are enjoying the
levels
We shouldn't be inventing just to invent so we
can say I invented something. I would rather live
forever and say this is my area of expertise and
just do it, then wait.