Does innovation come from an individual or a group of individuals? Do the ideas of the many outweigh the ideas of the one? In most cases the likely answer is, “Yes!”
EE Times Blogger Nancy Gross writes, “The concept that fluid connections between people create the right conditions for a full spectrum of ideas to germinate, find fertilization and reach full flowering is coming to the fore more . . .”
She may be spot on. Judging by Cerent’s initial product offering – the Cerent 454 – and Cisco’s $6.9 billion purchase price to acquire this technology and its team, this company’s approach was a rarity at the close of the twentieth century.
Vinod Khosla’s bold vision adopted by Raj Singh and Ajaib Bhadare led to a revolution in how optical networks were built at the dawn of the new millennium. Shaped by Mike Hatfield, the Cerent 454 found rapid acceptance by telecom service providers of all stripes. Carl Russo assumed the leadership role at Cerent and he instilled a culture of collaboration and teamwork with an almost zero tolerance for poor execution.
EE Times Blogger Nancy Gross writes, “The concept that fluid connections between people create the right conditions for a full spectrum of ideas to germinate, find fertilization and reach full flowering is coming to the fore more . . .”
She may be spot on. Judging by Cerent’s initial product offering – the Cerent 454 – and Cisco’s $6.9 billion purchase price to acquire this technology and its team, this company’s approach was a rarity at the close of the twentieth century.
Vinod Khosla’s bold vision adopted by Raj Singh and Ajaib Bhadare led to a revolution in how optical networks were built at the dawn of the new millennium. Shaped by Mike Hatfield, the Cerent 454 found rapid acceptance by telecom service providers of all stripes. Carl Russo assumed the leadership role at Cerent and he instilled a culture of collaboration and teamwork with an almost zero tolerance for poor execution.
Today startup companies regularly implement a culture that instills a spirit of teamwork with a focus on results-based execution. While Louis Pasteur believed, “Chance favors the prepared mind,” author Steven Johnson believes, “Chance favors the connected mind.”
Both men are correct. Collaboration around nascent ideas often achieves liftoff when prepared individuals, performing at the top of their game come together to solve a problem.
This notion, in part, was key to Cerent’s success.
Both men are correct. Collaboration around nascent ideas often achieves liftoff when prepared individuals, performing at the top of their game come together to solve a problem.
This notion, in part, was key to Cerent’s success.