Apple's recent executive shakeup was about 'collaboration,' Tim Cook says

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  • Reply 41 of 62
    Tim realizes, like the Auto Industry that manufacturing is best served in a globally distributed arrangement with local presence in your major regions of sales.
  • Reply 42 of 62
    mj1970mj1970 Posts: 9,002member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mdriftmeyer View Post



    Tim realizes, like the Auto Industry that manufacturing is best served in a globally distributed arrangement with local presence in your major regions of sales.


     


    That may be true in the automobile industry where you have three things that are quite different from Apple's industry:


     



    1. A product that is much larger and more expensive to transport.


    2. A product that is often much more tuned to local markets for cultural as well as regulatory reasons.


    3. A product that is often subject to various tariffs and import restrictions.

  • Reply 43 of 62


    Is it true that collaboration fosters innovation?


     


    Historically, the really groundbreaking innovation has come from individuals. Turning such innovations into products is where teamwork is critical

  • Reply 44 of 62

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mdriftmeyer View Post



    Tim realizes, like the Auto Industry that manufacturing is best served in a globally distributed arrangement with local presence in your major regions of sales.




    Is auto manufacturing really best served by local presence? What if there was no legal requirement to have XX% of a car made in the US? Do you think Honda, Toyota, etc. would have so many factories here? Sure, shipping costs are a factor. But it doesn't cost much to ship from Central America.

  • Reply 45 of 62
    Ok
  • Reply 46 of 62
    quinneyquinney Posts: 2,528member
    mj1970 wrote: »
    Tim realizes, like the Auto Industry that manufacturing is best served in a globally distributed arrangement with local presence in your major regions of sales.

    That may be true in the automobile industry where you have three things that are quite different from Apple's industry:
    1. A product that is much larger and more expensive to transport.
    2. A product that is often much more tuned to local markets for cultural as well as regulatory reasons.
    3. A product that is often subject to various tariffs and import restrictions.

    Number 3 definitely applied to Apple's industry in Brazil.
  • Reply 47 of 62
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    Is it true that collaboration fosters innovation?

    Historically, the really groundbreaking innovation has come from individuals. Turning such innovations into products is where teamwork is critical
    My guesses Cook is referring more to not allowing fiefdoms or silos at the top. Perhaps Forstall was like Sinofsky trying to create an iOS empire whether it benefited Apple as whole or not. But my guess is he was just abrasive and didn't get along with Cook or the other execs. Maybe he felt he should've been top dog because he was the leader behind iOS and iPhone/iPad are Apple's biggest products. But it seems to me if Steve felt that way he would've recommended Forstall replace him, not Cook.
  • Reply 48 of 62
    ireland wrote: »
    D Conference and other snippets here and there, and many Apple events.

    OMG Steve Jobs spoke at D like 4 times while CEO, not to mention dozens of interviews over the years with mainstream media, and collaborating with a biographer! And you think Tim Cook is talking too much?
  • Reply 49 of 62
    mj1970mj1970 Posts: 9,002member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by quinney View Post





    Number 3 definitely applied to Apple's industry in Brazil.


     


    Understood. And this might become more widespread. Governments hate freedom after all. But this is the exception to the rule at this point in time. Certainly as compared with the auto industry.

  • Reply 50 of 62


    Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton View Post

    …Tim Cook is talking too much?


     


    I think that's a weird picture. That comment doesn't fit in anywhere else, but I guess one could make the connection that the less he talks, the fewer pictures are taken of him. image

  • Reply 51 of 62
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    Tim said something interesting in this Bloomberg interview:

    "That’s a part of our base principle, that we will only do a few things. And we’ll only do things where we can make a significant contribution I don’t mean financially. I mean some significant contribution to the society at large. You know, we want to really enrich people’s lives at the end of the day, not just make money. Making money might be a byproduct, but it’s not our North Star."

    I remember when Jony Ive said something similar earlier this year (basically that Apple was about making great products and if people like them and buy them then Apple will make money). At the time he said it people laughed and said it was a ridiculous statement. Well, well, well here we have Tim Cook basically saying the same thing. Though I suppose some will laugh at Cook too thinking all Apple cares about is making boatloads of money,
  • Reply 52 of 62
    v5vv5v Posts: 1,357member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jragosta View Post



    I think he's trying to do something about the irrational stock price drop.


     


    But... but... but... Tallest insists that Apple doesn't CARE about the stock price.

  • Reply 53 of 62


    Originally Posted by v5v View Post

    But... but... but... Tallest insists that Apple doesn't CARE about the stock price.


     


    What's your point? They've specifically stated this on more than one occasion. If you have any reason to believe they expressly care about the stock price to the detriment of the products they sell, feel free to present it. Otherwise there's not much point in what you've said here.

  • Reply 54 of 62
    v5vv5v Posts: 1,357member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post


     


    What's your point? They've specifically stated this on more than one occasion. If you have any reason to believe they expressly care about the stock price to the detriment of the products they sell, feel free to present it. Otherwise there's not much point in what you've said here.



     


    Please see the post to which I responded. The point is perfectly clear. Over and out.

  • Reply 55 of 62
    Gazoobee, you need to relax. I'm sure Ive is part of the team not the designer of software.
  • Reply 56 of 62
    sr2012sr2012 Posts: 896member
    Something very fishy about Tim Cook recently.
  • Reply 57 of 62


    Originally Posted by sr2012 View Post

    Something very fishy about Tim Cook recently.


     


    What would THAT be, exactly?

  • Reply 58 of 62

    Quote:


    Originally Posted by MJ1970 View Post


     


     


    The main thing I want to see Apple doing is to be creating and building great and amazing products. Them "bringing jobs here" is of little concern to me.



     


    ... because you either already have a job, or a spouse/partner who has one, or are independently wealthy — but a lot of people need jobs to live. And thus the idea of creating more work in America is not some kind of "fetish" that people have, but a serious daily need for their survival and a means of helping to improve the overall economy.


     


    It is the height of myopic self-interest to not understand that, and to be so utterly unsympathetic to people who are unemployed, simply because you personally don't need a job (right now). Some day you could need one, and not be able to find it (especially if you were born in 1970), because of people like yourself who don't care about the plight of others. Then we'll see whether "bringing jobs here" is of any concern to you ...

  • Reply 59 of 62


    Originally Posted by Beezlegrunk View Post

    ... because you either already have a job, or a spouse/partner who has one, or are independently wealthy — but a lot of people need jobs to live.


     


    Not in the United States.

  • Reply 60 of 62

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gazoobee View Post


     


    As far as I'm aware, this is the very first time we've heard anything this explicit about Ive's new role and I find this comment absolutely alarming.  it remains to be seen what talents Ive has in software design, but one thing is for certain .. he has absolutely no actual qualifications in that area.  


     


    As a former designer myself, I can say that no one in the design field would ever make the assumption that Cook is apparently making here.  Skill at 3D design or industrial design simply does not equate to skill in 2D design, production design, or software design.  They are completely different things.  


     


    Perhaps there is more to it than is apparent from Cook's comments, but if (as seems apparent) he is basically saying, "Well, Jony is great at designing the hardware so we thought we'd put him in charge of the look and feel of the software too."  then Apple could easily be making a horrible mistake here.  


     


    Taste is not universal.  You can be an excellent Industrial designer and still be a wearer of ugly sweaters who likes to watch "Family Guy."  Let's hope that against all odds, Jony Ive turns out to be a world leader at something he's never even been trained for.  The odds are against it however. 



     


    Ive is taking over MANAGEMENT of software design not designing the software. Neither did Jobs. Good taste is what a good designer brings to the table. Of course, I also suspect he personally didn't design the 3D either. Early on, yes, but he has been managing that design group and asking the questions, pushing, etc. I see no problem here.

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