The talk between the walkman and innovation

The talk between the walkman and innovation

On October, 22, Sony declared to stop the production of the portable cassette media player. We know now it's not the cassette media player age. The music player has experienced several revolutions since this revolutional product is produced. The latest one is the HDD media player time created by Apple Company. The apple iPod takes the place of Sony walkman. It swept the music lovers from Tokyo Ginza to New York's Manhattan.

The sales volume of Sony walkman reached the surprising 0.25 billion sets. In other words, almost one in thirty people own a Sony walkman. However, the iPod gained an even fast speed. In 2006, the sales volume of iPod surpassed 0.1 billion sets. And it surpassed 0.2 billion in 2009.

Sony was the super star thirty years ago. The success of the Sony arises from the capturing of the various electronics demand of consumers. At the same time, it can satisfy the needs by the means of innovation. The most successful case is the Sony walkman. At first, the technicians of Sony ignored the idea of mini media player, because it had no chanllenge on the technology and can't satisfy the needs of the music lovers.

It only took a few months to create it. There was no long term developing and disagreements on the creative needed for product. But it's absolutely right. In the subways from Ginza to New York, people began to wear the walkman earphone.

Just like the Sony walkman, though apple iPod changed the electronic music player and music industry, people don't think the "perfect thing" is that original. Some of the patents are even owned by other companies. But both of them have become the most successful and most creative products. They have much in common. The difference is that one has become the history while the other is still in the center of the stage.

It's a challenge for any management and business school professor to explain how the ever leader company lose the creativity and insight or why apple succeeds while the Sony failed. The direct reason may be Sony lost Morita Akio while apple regained Steve Jobs. The company leader plays an important role in driving the innovation. But the explaination relies too heavily on the individulas. It seems that there is no perfect answer for the question. The leaders can only make sure to react timely to the market situation and maintain the innovation capability.

Therefor, if the off production of the walkman will make the fanciers feel sad about the lost time, it's the cruel alarm for the managements at the same time. It reminds the commercial leaders of the cruety in the business world and the importance of the innovation capability. The current leading position can be overturned overnight by challengers. The only funcion is for people to recall the memory. Now people are active in talking the apple, google, Twitter and Facebook. But the ever yahoo, Netscape, Sony and American online become less mentioned by people.

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