The Akbar Effect

This appears to be a great tool for developing applications for Adroid phones and iPhones.

At acmet, in the tools BU, we made cross compilers and other tools for programming embedded applications. We also had a fairly competent in-house software infrastructure team that built our intranet, defect database query and reporting, accounts and HR system. Interestingly, we also had a group that was dedicated to an overseas customer, providing a USB product to mobile phone manufacturers.

With this much of apparent synergy, why did we not come up with the tool mentioned earlier? Because there was no synergy. Why was there no synergy? Because there was very little cross fertilization between teams. Why was there no cross fertilization? Because the senior lot - that includes me - distrusted each other.

A dysfunctional top management team cannot be expected to, first come up with, and then commit to, a new idea.

But did I get the idea? No, I did not, Why was that? I think because I am a late adopter. I could never see the point about the iPod. Never bought one. (Incidentally I bought a Walkman when it was at the end of its life cycle:-) I doubt if I will ever buy an iPhone:-( I am a techie. I guess, I am just not a gadget guy. And that, I think, is the reason. How can I possibly come up with an idea that links programming tools, and web 2.0, and mobile phones, if I do not have direct personal experience of them?

And that is, what I call, "The Akbar Effect".

The emperor Akbar was presented bibles by some missionaries visiting his court. Unlike the books in the emperor's library, these were printed books. But the emperor did not notice the difference. What if he had? It could have brought printing to India and set off an information revolution. Why did he not notice the difference? You see, Akbar, one of India's most powerful and enlightened rulers, was an illiterate.