I'm not sure these cases are parallel, though. The article is discussing "America's most innovative companies", meaning the behemoths: Apple, Bell, IBM, etc.

I'm not sure these cases are parallel, though. The article is discussing "America's most innovative companies", meaning the behemoths: Apple, Bell, IBM, etc. I haven't read the book, but from poking around on Amazon, it seems to be discussing mostly small and midsize privately-owned businesses. In those situations, I can absolutely see the whims of one person playing a much more central role than in large companies with shareholders to answer to. After all, most small businesses are started by people who (naturally) work near their homes.