Steve Jobs’ Indelible Mark
Steve Jobs
died at the
highest point
(so far) of his
company’s
success. But
what does the
future hold?
STEVE JOBS HAD UNPARALLELED FORESIGHT and the will to make his ideas come to life. Will there ever be another visionary who has anything close to the impact that Apple’s co-founder had on consumer technologies?
Scot Finnie is
Computer world’s
editor in chief.
You can contact
him at sfinnie@
computer world.com
and follow him on
Twitter (@ScotFinnie).
In recent years, Apple’s sphere of influence expanded by millions of users worldwide, confirming Jobs’ vision after years of the company being
marginalized by weak market share.
Ultimately, Jobs’ stubbornly held convictions
about how people should use computers and other
devices prevailed over the ideas of his competitors
and critics. The Mac, OS X, the iPod, the iPhone
and the iPad are all success stories. And under
Jobs’ leadership, Apple got better and better at
combining his vision with economic success.
It isn’t just end users who have embraced Apple;
Wall Street has too. Based on market cap, Apple’s
valuation has surpassed every other tech company
in the U.S. In fact, it has been playing a game
of tag with oil giant ExxonMobil for the title of
highest valued company in the U.S. No matter
what you think of the company’s products, you
have to tip your hat to Apple’s financial might.
Steve Jobs died at the highest point (so far) of
his company’s success. But what does the future
hold? Did Jobs leave behind a company now
lacking the critical vision that was instrumental to
its success — a company that will be crippled by
his death? Or was Jobs the truly superb CEO that
many believe him to have been? Did he plan for
succession and prepare key members of his staff to
carry on for him after his departure?
We’re about to find out.
I hope, for the sake of Apple’s employees, share-
holders and millions of customers, that Jobs was
able to rein in his ego — that piece of him that
was probably requisite to his ability to stick to his
guns on product design and functionality — just
enough to do everything he could to make Apple
continue on course without him. The man had
eight years to come to terms with his impending
death and do what needed to be done. Just look at
Tim Cook’s quick transition to CEO in August. For
now, I’m giving Apple the benefit of the doubt.
