The Slingshot Syndrome: Why America's Leading Technology Firms Fail at Innovation

Is it possible for large corporations to innovate at the speed of a startup? The Slingshot Syndrome by Reid McRae Watts constructs a convincing and for some a shocking argument that explains how as technological change continues to accelerate startups and corporations can succeed together. Through an analysis of the failures of America’s great technology firms of the past and present The Slingshot Syndrome presents a unique and uncommon solution that rescues the corporation from the otherwise inescapable: death by creative destruction. One of the best descriptions and explanations I have read of the failure of large U.S. corporations to develop and exploit new products and services. I particularly liked the description of the failure of the development of the communications industry within the typical corporate structure and the analogy of the history of the U.S. product development to the movie industry. I also agree that distribution and management of services can probably only be efficiently performed through large corporations a direction that appears to be in the process of being taken by companies originally noted for technological development as illustrated. The recommendation that new products can best be incubated in small independent entrepreneurial startups is intriguing. - DeWitt Bowman Chief Investment Officer (retired) California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) This is excellent! I think Reid has it all figured out. The Slingshot Syndrome is easy to read - very clear and to-the-point. Revolutionary ideas presented clearly strongly and simply. A real winner in my opinion! - Terry McPherson Intellectual Property and Technology Management Director (retired) Lucent Technologies. Very good. Interesting historical perspective provocative thesis. - Stephen Socolof New Ventures Vice President Lucent Technologies. Ill be among the first purchasers for a dozen or more copies! - Susan Gauff Senior Vice President Sarnoff Corporation