Summary
Steve Jobs - The Silicon Valley Pioneer
The case examines in detail the leadership and entrepreneurial skills of Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computers (a leading Information Technology company) and Pixar (a leading US animation studio). Steve's role in shaping the computer industry through Apple's revolutionary products and a few 'unconventional' business practices has been explored in detail.
The case also discusses the aspects of Steve's personality that were appreciated by many businessmen and industry leaders. The ups and downs in Steve's career graph and the way in which he overcame the obstacles are discussed in detail. Steve's departure from Apple and his comeback have been explored in depth.
You have probably had somebody punch you in the stomach and it knocks the wind out of you and you cannot breathe. The harder you try to breathe, the more you cannot breathe. And you know that the only thing you can do is just relax so you can start breathing again."
- Steve Jobs, after he was ousted from Apple Computer, in 1985.
"I am convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance."
- Steve Jobs, in 1995.
A Charismatic Leader
In September 1997, Steve Jobs (Steve) was appointed the 'interim CEO' of leading information technology (IT) company, Apple Computers (Apple), by the Apple board. Considering the fact that the company's board itself had ousted Steve in a coup in 1983, this development was watched with interest by media and industry observers. Steve's comeback was being seen as Apple's desperate attempt to survive one of its worst phases: losses for 1997 amounted to $ 1.6 billion (refer Exhibit I for financial statistics). The company reportedly needed a charismatic leader who could steer it back to profitability and revive its fortunes. Those who had followed Steve's career graph over the decades were not too surprised at these developments.
Known as the 'wonderkid' of
The case examines in detail the leadership and entrepreneurial skills of Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computers (a leading Information Technology company) and Pixar (a leading US animation studio). Steve's role in shaping the computer industry through Apple's revolutionary products and a few 'unconventional' business practices has been explored in detail.
The case also discusses the aspects of Steve's personality that were appreciated by many businessmen and industry leaders. The ups and downs in Steve's career graph and the way in which he overcame the obstacles are discussed in detail. Steve's departure from Apple and his comeback have been explored in depth.
You have probably had somebody punch you in the stomach and it knocks the wind out of you and you cannot breathe. The harder you try to breathe, the more you cannot breathe. And you know that the only thing you can do is just relax so you can start breathing again."
- Steve Jobs, after he was ousted from Apple Computer, in 1985.
"I am convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance."
- Steve Jobs, in 1995.
A Charismatic Leader
In September 1997, Steve Jobs (Steve) was appointed the 'interim CEO' of leading information technology (IT) company, Apple Computers (Apple), by the Apple board. Considering the fact that the company's board itself had ousted Steve in a coup in 1983, this development was watched with interest by media and industry observers. Steve's comeback was being seen as Apple's desperate attempt to survive one of its worst phases: losses for 1997 amounted to $ 1.6 billion (refer Exhibit I for financial statistics). The company reportedly needed a charismatic leader who could steer it back to profitability and revive its fortunes. Those who had followed Steve's career graph over the decades were not too surprised at these developments.
Known as the 'wonderkid' of