CyberFootprint

Steve Jobs has died and the world has lost a visionary. Apart from the fact that it’s a tragedy for the company and perhaps the whole industry, a more pressing question arises. It is the question of Steve’s legacy.

Given that Steve Jobs was the embodiment of Apple, what is going to happen with the company after his death? Will Apple still remain the world leader in innovation and flawless product design? One issue is to preserve the market position in terms of stakeholder relations and financial stability. Another one is to preserve company culture in to stay competitive and manufacture products that will get better and better.

Financial matters – the easy part

In the world of finance, budgetary skills and clever allocation of resources determine the winner. Steve has long ceased worrying about this aspect of his entrepreneurship and has left it to the financial geniuses. Of course, we can expect a short-term share fall, but my bet is that in terms of financial performance, Apple will fare well in the long term.

Company culture – the difficult part

Corporate culture is no laughing matter because it directly influences the way the company creates products. If the creative energy stemming from Steve is gone, will Apple be able to sustain its position as an innovator?

Even though, Jobs has openly said that Woz was the innovator in the company, I have my doubts. Woz might have come up with the actual technical innovation, but it was Steve’s energy and authority that created the context in which innovation was possible. I contend that with Steve Jobs’ death, Apple has set on a path to decline.

While you were sleeping

The proof thereof lies in the decade between 1985 and 1996 when Apple was left without a strong leader. Its financial results plateaued and there was very little sense of direction.

The company had still been employing innovators and creating good products. Good products – yes. Great products – maybe. Revolutionary products – no. It took Steve’s second coming to turn Apple into an innovation giant it is now.

With king gone, what remains?

What happens next? Who knows? Maybe the great innovator has left a testament including an action plan and long-term vision for the company. Maybe not… It is irrefutable that Steve Jobs has left a major footprint in the technology world and his legacy will live for long.

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