IBM >> Engineers at helm replaced by MBA. Goes down the drain. Plus many others I'm sure.
I think we can go on and on about how bean counters or business types or lawyers replace engineers at the helm, and end up destroying tech companies that were at the top.
I really wonder, why? Does it have to be that way?
But, lol. The irony.
He appoints Tim Cook to be his successor, who is NOT a product person but a supply chain specialist.
He definitely is not a product person. The same product team under Mr. Jobs may still be there, but I'd think most would agree Apple's been putting out new products that are somewhat lacking...
People criticize Steve Jobs for the fact that he was never an engineer. But he was never a suit either. He was more like Santa Claus: running around his workshop and getting so excited about all the new toys the elves come up with. He could play with your demo for a few minutes and tell you what was wrong with it, from the perspective of a non-engineer, and thus give you feedback on things that engineers take for granted.
There’s a niche of folks who are waiting for SF to make a come back the same way SJ did =)