Comment by tn13

There was a brilliant essay by an Indian politician few years back after his party lost the elections. Later in lecture he explain why political parties and large companies have so much in common when it comes to failing.

His basic logic was that - Success depends on processes - Processes even though might be thought of as abstract in reality are function of people at top. - Company gets successful because some bright guy is the rebel, he questions status quo, persists and succeeds. - As time goes by, the rebellious ideas actually become conservative ideas. The rebel is now on top. As his ideas fade he struggles to stay on top. - He recruits people who see the world through him, he builds processes that enforce that vision. - This makes it difficult for the truth to be visible to the top management. - By the time failure is visible it is hard to turn around the ship. - IN SHORT: Companies/Nations fail because someone at top did not know when to quit. - In the end that rebel turned conservative becomes bitter. He thinks the world owed him something for what he achieved.

He explained who USSR examples. How a genetic scientist got promoted because his fake research re-enforced something that Stalin had said long back and his peers were scared to point out the fact because it might get perceived as anti-Stalin.

I observed Blackberry very closely and it resonated to me so much. The founders at one point blamed people for using iphone and not blackberry.

Best companies in the world are seem to be those where their top leaders quit at their peak to make way for their successor.