Innovator's Dilemma - Intel's Andy Grove

Some important observations from Intel's former Chief Executive & Chairman, a man recognized as having a monumental role in the success of Intel and Silicon Valley. As summarized in the 1/12/09 issue of Business Week, he is credited with saving the U.S. chip industry and Intel in the 1980's. Currently an advisor to Intel, here are some of his tidbits of wisdom:

- Only the paranoid survive.
- The Valley's techies don't worry enough. He sees shortsightedness and shortage of ambition in Silicon Valley.
- What really infuriates him is the concept of the "exit strategy". That's when leaders of startup companies make plans to sell out to the highest bidder rather than trying to build important companies over a long period. "Intel never had an exit strategy."

The greed being bemoaned in our culture today isn't limited to the banking/brokerage industries. There's a pervasive mentality - human nature I suppose - to cash-in/get rich quick. The growing sophistication of the global economy (see Friedman's The World is Flat), and the global economic tsunami that became headline news beginning back in September 2008 all heighten the importance and value of Grove's observations and guidance.

Innovator's Dilemma - Hometown friend, inventive genius

A neighborhood friend from kindergarten days and a classmate through high school years, grew up to become one of the world's driving forces behind unleashing innovation that has and continues to impact lifestyles globally (i.e.: Palm Pilot, Handspring's Treo & more): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Hawkins

Now his current company is on a quest to create a break-through computer that thinks like a human brain (a concept some sci-fi'ers think has parallels to stories behind the blockbuster movie The Terminator or even The Matrix Trilogy).

Innovator's Dilemma - Innovation economics

(http://www.innovationeconomics.org/) “Innovation economics” recognizes the reality that a global, knowledge-based economy requires a new approach to national economic policy based less on capital accumulation, budget surpluses, or social spending and more on smart support for the building blocks of private sector growth and innovation.

When examining how the economy creates wealth, "innovation economics" is focused on a different set of questions:

Are entrepreneurs taking risks to start new ventures?
Are companies investing in technological breakthroughs and is government supporting the technology base (e.g., funding research and the training of scientists and engineers)?
Are regional clusters of firms and supporting institutions fostering innovation?
Are research institutions transferring knowledge to companies?
Are our trade policies working to ensure a level playing field for American companies?
Are workers getting skilled & r companies organizing production in ways that utilize those skills?
Are policymakers avoiding erecting protections for companies against more innovative competitors?
And perhaps most importantly, are policies supporting the ubiquitous adoption of advanced information technologies and the broader digital transformation of society and the economy?