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.

[duc900rider]

IBM and the next big thing

IBM has shifted focus, please take the time to read the global innovation outlook link. They are big enough to tackle the really big problems in areas like healthcare. Check the web for the global community grid or world community grid agent. They are sponsoring and doing some great work that will benefit all of mankind. This is somewhat outside the original business model for the company. They are struggling like many large companies to adapt and find the right areas to work on. The speed of business today requires a company that can move fast. Yes the elephant can dance when it wants too, but a Texas two step is not a ballerina. They have a huge R&D department but they seem to have forgotten they need a high tech incubator program for innovations to grow. They have convinced themselves that one person can't make a difference and yet history repeatedly tells us differently. IBM's upper management is showing its age and it may take some new young blood to shake things up. IBM never thought people would need a home computer until Lotus 123 created a need. Cray supercomputers thought they would only ever need to build 3 supercomputers. The computer industry is an interesting paradox, older people that think like Nick and younger people that think like Bill gates or Steve Jobs. Maybe Nick is right, on land we have hit the wall, now lets look at the oceans floor, or maybe the thing that made several recent magazine covers outer space.

[duc900rider]

IBM and the next big thing

IBM has shifted focus, please take the time to read the global innovation outlook link. They are big enough to tackle the really big problems in areas like healthcare. Check the web for the global community grid or world community grid agent. They are sponsoring and doing some great work that will benefit all of mankind. This is somewhat outside the original business model for the company. They are struggling like many large companies to adapt and find the right areas to work on. The speed of business today requires a company that can move fast. Yes the elephant can dance when it wants too, but a Texas two step is not a ballerina. They have a huge R&D department but they seem to have forgotten they need a high tech incubator program for innovations to grow. They have convinced themselves that one person can't make a difference and yet history repeatedly tells us differently. IBM's upper management is showing its age and it may take some new young blood to shake things up. IBM never thought people would need a home computer until Lotus 123 created a need. Cray supercomputers thought they would only ever need to build 3 supercomputers. The computer industry is an interesting paradox, older people that think like Nick and younger people that think like Bill gates or Steve Jobs. Maybe Nick is right, on land we have hit the wall, now lets look at the oceans floor, or maybe the thing that made several recent magazine covers outer space.