On the destructive nature of narcissist CEOs
From a recent study in Administrative Science Quarterly:
“Highly narcissistic CEOs are much less responsive to recent objective measures of their performance than less narcissistic CEOs. They found the narcissists would continue to make lots of acquisitions at high premiums, even when their company hadn’t been doing well…”
“Most interesting though, they found that highly narcissistic CEOs were very responsive to social praise (measured as media praise and media awards) and this would spur them on to increase their pace of acquisitions and premiums paid (which, over time, tended to destroy shareholder value). Less narcissistic CEOs were much less responsive to social praise.”
(source: Administrative Science Quarterly, via IT World)
The bright side of narcissism
“A new study on the habits of highly effective CEOs suggests that narcissistic personalities do better at bringing their companies into line with the latest innovations. The study measured how quickly different pharmaceutical companies adapted to the emerging biotechnology field that has risen over the last thirty years. They compared those measurements with the companies’ CEOs, defining narcissism by the number of times they appeared in the press and the difference in compensation between the CEO and second in command. “ Read more…
(source: Big Think)
The Jerk
“Like everyone else in the tech world, I’ve been reading Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs biography. Simultaneously, I’ve been reading the reactions to it. The one that seems to stand out above all others amounts to: “wow, Steve Jobs was a jerk”. Those who have followed Apple closely throughout the years have heard dozens if not hundreds of stories of Jobs berating employees. Isaacson’s book brings a handful of these stories to the masses, and it’s rubbing some people the wrong way.” Read more…
(source: TechCrunch)
Why laptops should be banned at board meetings
“We now have ultra-lightweight laptops (MacBook Airs) or iPads and totally available Wi-Fi connections. So every board meeting I’m at has laptops opened and iPads on. They are just there to “be productive” and review your material. Um, yeah. This is a mistake.” Read more…
(source: TechCrunch)
Yes, Google "stole" from Apple, and that's a good thing
“The important question isn’t whether such “stealing” occurred, it’s whether we want to live in a world where it’s illegal. Do you want to live in a world where only Apple is allowed to make phones with pinch-to-zoom capability (and dozens of other features) until 2027? I sure don’t.” Read more…
(source: Forbes)
Visa, MasterCard to use buying history for ad targeting?
“All the purchases you make with your MasterCard or Visa could be used to provide you with more-targeted ads as you surf the Web, a new report claims.” Read more…
Microsoft touts Kinect at tiny hut in shadow of Apple store
“Crowds flocked to the Apple store at University Village in Seattle on Saturday afternoon, enticed by the possibility of picking up a new iPhone 4S. But a few steps away, Microsoft was doing a little guerilla marketing of its own. The company has set up a temporary hut within spitting distance of the Apple store. It is not really a store, since nothing is for sale.” Read more…
(source: GeekWire)
(source: @jimmyfallon, via Twitter)
Domino's Pizza launches lunar lunacy
File under: WTF?
“Now that NASA’s space shuttle program has officially retired, private companies are widely expected to lead the next era of human space flight. Companies like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and … Domino’s Pizza?”
“The U.S. pizza company’s Japanese arm has announced “plans” to open a new restaurant on the moon, via a bizarre website and an awkward video that features the president of Domino’s Japan wearing a spacesuit.” Read more…
(source: mother nature network, via The Telegraph)
Tim Cook: Apple’s new CEO and the most powerful gay man in America
“In a tragic moment for Steve Jobs, there is a bright spot: Tim Cook, who will succeed Jobs as Apple’s CEO, is an incredibly thorough and detail oriented boss who has revolutionized the way computers are assembled and steadily held the confidence of Apple’s employees and partners. He is also, as we reported in January, destined to become an icon for gay advancement.” Read more…
(source: Gawker)
Steve Jobs resigns
Apple chief executive officer Steve Jobs resigned Wednesday. Read his resignation letter here.
(source: Wall Street Journal)
The new high resolution renders of Apple’s next campus are gorgeous
Jeez, Steve, compensating much?
“The 175-acre, 2.8 million square foot spaceship will be done by 2015. In the meantime, we can only dream.” Read more…
Sorry, Hollywood: Piracy may make a comeback
P2P is alive and well
“The problem with this narrative [that piracy is ebbing] is that piracy never actually declined. It just didn’t grow as fast as other types of media consumption. Throughout the day, BitTorrent is still responsible for an average of 21.6 percent of residential Internet traffic in North America, according to Sandvine.” Read more…
(source: gigaom)
Leaked AT&T letter demolishes case for T-Mobile merger
Oh AT&T, you’re so cute! No wonder we all love you…
“Yesterday a partially-redacted document briefly appeared on the FCC website—accidentally posted by a law firm working for AT&T on the $39 billion T-Mobile deal (somewhere there’s a paralegal looking for work today). While AT&T engaged in damage control telling reporters that the document contained no new information—our review of the doc shows that’s simply not true. Data in the letter undermines AT&T’s primary justification for the massive deal, while highlighting how AT&T is willing to pay a huge premium simply to reduce competition and keep T-Mobile out of Sprint’s hands.” Read more…
(source: Broadband Reports, via Slashdot)
