It is a common misunderstanding the “the early bird gets the worm“; that is not always the case especially in the IT business. We have seen it happen more than once where some products got the lead when they weren’t the pioneers (let’s call them 2nd generation products). Let me give you a few examples:
- Windows: It goes without saying that Windows is by far the most popular Operating System. Don’t get me wrong I am not saying it is the best. However, a cloud of suspicion hovers over Windows’ rise to stardom. Windows originally used many of the elements of Mac OS back in 1985; which lead to a lengthy legal battle between the 2 Companies (Microsoft and Apple).
- Youtube: Youtube is not the first web community to address the idea of video streaming where users can submit Videos and the videos can get ranked. I know for sure that Metacafe is much older than Youtube, I am not clear though whether or not an older community exists.
- Facebook: This is one of my Favorite examples. Facebook is not only the leading Social Networking web app on the internet but it is now a culture on its own. But it is by no means the first in its domain. Hi5 has been up-and-running since before Mark Zuckerberg was in junior high. Hi5 is still one of the leading Social networking website but its fame and glory doesn’t even begin to compare to that of Facebook.
So why and how did this happen? We have been spoon fed the fact that “the early bird gets the worm” for as long as I can remember. Has that changed all of a sudden?
Yes, it had.
Think of it that way, unlike the pioneers, the developers of the 2nd generation products didn’t start from scratch. While those pioneers spent time and money formulating their dreams and ideas into something solid 2nd generation products started where others have reached . Instead , the creators of the 2nd generation products concentrated their effort in enhancing the original ideas and adding new features. That way the second generation products looked far more appealing to the end-users that those developed by the original pioneers.They had more features, they looked nicer and were more user friendly.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that innovation doesn’t pay any more. On the contrary, if the creators of the 2nd generation products weren’t innovative in the way they developed the original ideas and added their final touch they wouldn’t have succeeded. In the end it all comes to what the end-user will like better. Only a small portion base their choice on “who’s idea was it to begin with?” (yes i am talking about you fellow geeks and nerds).
So what should the “Pioneers” have done?
- They shouldn’t have released prototype products. They should have waited until their product is finalized and had a nice set of features.
- They should have had version 2 ready before version 1 is released. That way they can compete with those who would release similar but enhanced products. Consider what Apple has done with their iPod. The iPod was released in 2001. Now in 2008 we have 5 different models of the IPod and there are 6 generations of the iPod Classic alone. So when Microsoft released the Zune (thinking they can repeat history) the poor thing never stood a chance. (Let me get side tracked for a second to say: “Don’t you just love Apple”).
- Patents, Patents, Patents. You have always to cover your bleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep (yes I just bleeped myself). If you are going to spend days and nights working on a new idea and making sure every itty bitty detail gets taken care of then go the extra mile and get yourself a patent. I mean Cingular got a patent for Mobile smileys for crying out loud. Mozilla wanted to patent “Tabbed browsing” and it wasn’t even their idea to begin with (it was IBrowse)
One last word, I do not want to be misunderstood. I think innovation is great. The IT industry wouldn’t have gotten to where it is right now it wasn’t for innovation.
And now to wrap it all up with a touch of relevant comedy….
