“Not so long ago, no conversation about innovation would be complete without the story of 3M inventor Art Fry’s eureka moment that led to the Post-it Note. Today, that tale, which verges on cliche, has been almost universally replaced by the story of the iPod, Apple’s omnipresent icon of design,” BusinessWeek reports.
“It should come as little surprise, then, that Apple tops the BusinessWeek-Boston Consulting Group’s list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for the third year in a row. That sort of staying power speaks volumes about the sort of innovation that matters today. Unlike the Post-it Note, which proves the value of lone inventors, the iPod epitomizes today’s innovation sensibilities. These include the ascendance of design, the focus on the user’s experience, and the power of ecosystems: The iPod is a hit because it works so seamlessly with the iTunes software. The company’s much-anticipated iPhone, which launches in June, will likely keep Apple high on our list next year too,” BusinessWeek reports.
“There are some surprises this year, including four new companies in the top 25—Disney, Boeing, Genentech, and Cisco Systems. In other cases, the resilience of corporate reputation was surprising. Wal-Mart Stores suffers from slow growth, but still commands respect for its supply-chain innovations. Dell wears the brand halo of an innovator for its efficient direct-to-consumer model, though it suffered through a management shakeup and fell from No. 14 to No. 22. And what of 3M? It fell too, from No. 3 in 2006 to No. 7 this year,” BusinessWeek reports.
Full article here.
Don’t forget Microsoft’s time-honored, innovation technique.
It’s about to acquire Yahoo for $50 billion.
Have Microsoft ever been in the remote vincinity of this list?
If you can’t beat ’em buy ’em. If there were a list for that, Microsoft would be number one.
actually, M$ is #5. surprised me to no end, too! I think it’s a result of Yep’s comment above. Maybe it’s just the fact that they say it over and over so it must be true.
Steve back in the early ’90s said that the Web would be great because Microsoft could not buy it…
Are they trying now?
Interesting to note that Walt Disney moved up from 43 to 8. I notice that they have one person in common with Apple!
Well, Microsoft did invent Windows 95. Sure, they change it’s name every 2 to 5 years but it’s still with us and it’s powering about 80% of the installed computers on the planet.
It also spawned the fastest growing software segment on the planet. Games!
Just kidding, we all know I meant Malware.
If Microsoft really does buy Yahoo for 50 billion then they are much closer to bankruptcy than anyone thought.
” . . . the Web would be great because Microsoft could not buy it…Are they trying now?”
Once Gates realized he had left the internet out of his book, The Road Ahead and was suddenly years behind, he knew he had to buy it.
Look for Microsoft Planet Earth® (Millenium Edition) soon.
Microsoft in an innovation list? The companies below that must be full of crap!
@ No Squirt For You:
Look for Microsoft Planet Earth® (Millenium Edition) soon.
the earth was commissioned – and paid for – by mice…
It should be noted that BusinessWeek thinks the iPod and Apple’s innovative juices are overrated. Seriously. BusinessWeek is not that smart. I’ve been listening to their Podcast for a while now. They’re idiots.
They were talking about how .. ‘what’s so great about the iPod anyway’…. and then came up with like 20 things that were good about it and then said… “I mean.. just those things…”
And of course, they didn’t even mention how the Mac OS software is way ahead of the competition…. Never mind the iPhone.. these guys are tired
Apple at #1 is a no-brainer.
How can the rest of the list be justified with Micro$oft as #5?
Please list the innovative, original ideas M$loth has come up with. They shouldn’t just link the name in the list to a stock chart, list some friggin’ PROOF of innovation.
In my <strike>not-so-</strike>crazy, humble opinion……
One of the sixteen Zune owners was the guy who made some of the decisions on BusinessWeek’s list:
Microsoft — #5 (from #5 in 2006)
Wal-Mart — #11 (from #20)
Starbucks — #14 (hey, it went down from #9!)
Dell — #22 (down from #14!)
McDonald’s — #48 (up from #100)
All of the above companies were way too high on the innovation list. Innovation means originality, and no one — maybe except Dell for resurrecting XP to an extent — is any more unique than the typical Star Wars clone. The emoticon, of course, is not included in my list for lack of innovation. It did just fine.
MW: know… “Do you know how to get out of this application that’s called “Finder” and just won’t X-out?”
slartibartfast:
I believe you. I do.
@No Squirt
Apple + Option + Esc
Asta la Vista Yahoo!
Time to short them and accumulate Google, some more.
Ah, Rock on Steve!
How do Starbucks and MacDonald’s get on the list for innovative companies? Did these folks invent coffee and sandwiches?
ShadowMac: Clever.
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