Only the Paranoid Survive
a review of 'Only the Paranoid Survive' authored by Andrew Grove
the book is all about dramatic changes all industries undergo and how each player in that industry adapts to survive and succeed. these dramatic changes that revolutionize the way business is conducted are aptly called "Strategic Inflection Points" , shortly SIPs. SIP would have been an appropriate title for the book but since the stress is on why companies should survive the SIPs, "only the paranoid survive" is more appropriate.
usually, technology books get outdated fast since technology changes leaps and bounds in the blink of an eye. this book written by a co-founder of Intel makes an interesting read even 10 years after it was written. though the then market trends he has written about has become the industry norm today, only someone extraordinarily smart could make such observations and come up with a strong understanding of basic principles.
change is not always easy, more so when it is forced on us by others. hence, to manipulate employees and make them accept change in the industry is something only genius of a leader can do. Andy Grove is definitely one of them. his views of what is going on and what would be the future ultimately demands attention. this book is a compelling read, no doubts.
Excerpts from the chapter “Signal or Noise?”
(that's a true electrical engr. there is more philosophy than EE in this concept of signal and noise....i plan to write something on it myself)
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You cannot judge the significance of SIPs (Strategic Inflection Points) by the quality of the first version. You must discipline yourself to think things through and separate the quality of the early versions from the longer term potential and significance of a new product or technology.
All sides cannot prevail in the debate but all opinions have value in shaping the right answer. Debates are like the process through which a photographer sharpens the contrast when developing a print.
People who have no emotional stake in a decision can see what needs to be done sooner. That's companies replace CEOs who are long-time employees of the company with outsiders. as CEOs, both of them are equally capable managers but the inside CEO has more emotional involvement that might jaundice his decisions.
(these are the only excerpts that i managed to write down while reading the book on my bus ride to work everyday. i wish i had taken more notes)
the book is all about dramatic changes all industries undergo and how each player in that industry adapts to survive and succeed. these dramatic changes that revolutionize the way business is conducted are aptly called "Strategic Inflection Points" , shortly SIPs. SIP would have been an appropriate title for the book but since the stress is on why companies should survive the SIPs, "only the paranoid survive" is more appropriate.
usually, technology books get outdated fast since technology changes leaps and bounds in the blink of an eye. this book written by a co-founder of Intel makes an interesting read even 10 years after it was written. though the then market trends he has written about has become the industry norm today, only someone extraordinarily smart could make such observations and come up with a strong understanding of basic principles.
change is not always easy, more so when it is forced on us by others. hence, to manipulate employees and make them accept change in the industry is something only genius of a leader can do. Andy Grove is definitely one of them. his views of what is going on and what would be the future ultimately demands attention. this book is a compelling read, no doubts.
Excerpts from the chapter “Signal or Noise?”
(that's a true electrical engr. there is more philosophy than EE in this concept of signal and noise....i plan to write something on it myself)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
You cannot judge the significance of SIPs (Strategic Inflection Points) by the quality of the first version. You must discipline yourself to think things through and separate the quality of the early versions from the longer term potential and significance of a new product or technology.
All sides cannot prevail in the debate but all opinions have value in shaping the right answer. Debates are like the process through which a photographer sharpens the contrast when developing a print.
People who have no emotional stake in a decision can see what needs to be done sooner. That's companies replace CEOs who are long-time employees of the company with outsiders. as CEOs, both of them are equally capable managers but the inside CEO has more emotional involvement that might jaundice his decisions.
(these are the only excerpts that i managed to write down while reading the book on my bus ride to work everyday. i wish i had taken more notes)
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