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Why didn't Kodak pivot to digital cameras when it invented them in 1975? Why didn't Barnes and Noble move into the online retailing business in the late 90's? F
by cassieramen 11y ago
Why didn't Kodak pivot to digital cameras when it invented them in 1975? Why didn't Barnes and Noble move into the online retailing business in the late 90's? Fear of cannibalizing your own business. Shaking the status quo. Oil companies have had a long and great run that will continue for some time. It's a scary thing to move away from your core competency. Many companies have fallen victim to failures to pivot. That's why pivoting has become one of the hallmark's of lean processes.
- saidajigumi 11y ago> It's a scary thing to move away from your core competency. And it's mostly been scary for good reason. Just because an organization has the resources of an incumbent doesn't mean it has the skills required to successfully pivot the business. Kodak is truly a great example, for its corporate culture was notoriously hidebound after decades of reign over imaging. Even with today's hindsight, I suspect the cultural revolution required to adequately embrace digital imaging at Kodak would seem a nigh unimaginable task.