Thinking about the premature rejection of new ideas, I’ve
been imagining how the management of Motorola may have greeted Martin Cooper’s
new-fangled mobile phone in the early 1970s – on the telephone:
“So, Mr Cooper, the market for these things is how big…?”
“Oh, there is no market. Well, what is market research
telling us?”
“That people don’t think they need them. I see. And how
would they fit with our business?”
“They’d need completely new manufacturing plant and new
routes to market. Hmmm.”
“I must tell you that I showed your new gadget to my wife
and she thought it was just too clunky. It really wouldn’t fit in her purse.”
“Too be honest, Martin, maybe your time would be better
directed at more promising areas, no?”
Maybe that's what happened? Certainly Motorola missed the boat.


