Apotheker’s performance over the last 12 months was not that convincing and there was the need for a change in the management board. Meg Whitman’s appointment as CEO of Hewlett-Packard may help the company to be back in the spotlight.
That move certainly got public attention, butI'm sure his problems go back further than that. For the TouchPad, the question still remains whether it could have competed at a profitable level. Guess we'll never know!
"the HP Board just made the worst personnel decision since the idiots on the Apple Board fired Steve Jobs many years ago. That decision nearly destroyed Apple and would have if Steve hadn't come back and saved them. HP had a long list of failed CEOs until they hired Mark who has spent the last five years doing a brilliant job reviving HP to its former greatness" - Ellison, 8/9/10. For HP to regain the credibility, the internal problem has to be resolved. The company is just struggling like the snake without a head. Once the company is able to get goal oriented leaders, then it can come back heavily. Who knows wether the board was afraid of loosing money if they go ahead on tablet PC under the current CEO leadership. To drop the idea of tablet may be the best decision the company can make
"the frequent changes at the CEO position are not a good indicator for the internal dynamics at HP"
That is true. However Leo had been making a negative buzz since he allowed the TouchPad to be pulled off 7 weeks after it was released to realize later that people actually like the HP tablet and the main problem was elsewhere.
I was very surprised to see that HP took back the person who held the position earlier. I don't know if this is unprecedented, but it is, surely, unusual. Maybe they believe that they're playing it safer this way, along the the lines of "Better the devil you know than the devil you don't."
Bolaji, in general, I agree with your assessment. The only thing I take issue with is that you think that it was an, "idiotic decision to stop manufacturing tablet PCs." I think that bailing on the tablet business is a smart move, clearly the tablet market is jammed-packed with too many players and not enough demand for tablets which aren't made by Apple. I think HP needs to pick their battles, and the tablet fight is one they can't win... so stepping aside was a wise move.
I don't like the Whitman move. It really is not a step in the right direction, in my opinion. Also, this really makes me question the amount of executive talent currently at HP... There obviously must not be a rising-star or an existing strong leader within the company. There are surely deeper leadership issues within the organization. I suppose it's a trickle-down effect, if the board and the CEO is kind of just flailing around, I guess you can't expect everyone else to fall in line...
I'm really not convinced HP has a clear idea of what they're trying to do or what kind of company they hope to be. Beyond the lack of identity, I'm not convinced there's a clear, viable, overall strategy in place. And even once they do figure this out, I'm not sure if they have the leadership to actually execute.
As you say, I think it's pretty clear at this point that firing Hurd was the wrong move. I guess Larry Ellison was right: "the HP Board just made the worst personnel decision since the idiots on the Apple Board fired Steve Jobs many years ago. That decision nearly destroyed Apple and would have if Steve hadn't come back and saved them. HP had a long list of failed CEOs until they hired Mark who has spent the last five years doing a brilliant job reviving HP to its former greatness" - Ellison, 8/9/10.
Clearly, the frequent changes at the CEO position are not a good indicator for the internal dynamics at HP. One would hope that the board recongnizes this fact, and spect some time in careful deliberation before making this announcement, past record notwithstanding. I hope they recognized what attributes they really need to move forward, and chose wisely. Time will tell.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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