We all know Apple is an innovative company, but just how innovative is it? Well, for the third year in a row, Apple has snagged bragging rights from BusinessWeek by being ranked as the numero uno most innovative company. Apple beats out fellow tech industry magnates like Google (#2) and Microsoft (#5), as well as those in other fields, such as Toyota, Procter & Gamble, 3M, and Disney, which catapulted from 43 on last year’s list to 6 on this year, in part because of “Groundbreaking moves such as putting Disney movies and ABC shows on iTunes”. Hmmm.
So what says the BW on Apple?
As our first-place innovator for the third year in a row, Apple reigns again. The iPod creator is a master of superb product, store, and experience design. Now that it’s invading the living room and the cell-phone market, will it continue the winning streak?Interviewed after the fact, Apple was heard to shout “I’m going to Disney World! Err, wait, never mind. It’s not innovative enough.”
I don't disagree about Apple's top showing in this list, but I find some of the other entries on the list suspect.
It seems like the ranking should be influenced by moves that companies have made in the last year, but many companies seem to be listed primarily based on historic innovations.
Dell is a good case in point. What truly innovative thing have they done in the last year. Buying alienware? Allowing customers to buy Windows XP rather than Vista? The Ubuntu Linux deal might qualify, but surely that's too recent to have been taken into account. A company like Dell is probably on the list because of its direct sales, supply chain, manufacturing innovations, but those innovations are kind of old news now.
I would place Nintendo, who just released a truly innovative product, over Starbucks whose innovations seem to be investing in movies and doing exclusive music distribution deals. The Cinnamon Dulce latte is delicious, but innovative?