Should RIM hire someone like Steve Jobs?

[thermal]

I'm Canadian, and am all too acutely aware that RIM is in desperate trouble. It's stock price has fallen from $148 to $11 and there's talk the company may be bought out or face bankruptcy. It's obvious RIM completely dropped the ball in their non-response to Android and iPhone.

Apple was in a similar position 15 years ago; on the verge of bankruptcy with products few people wanted to buy. Steve Jobs was hired back and turned the company around.

So my questions is: Should RIM hire someone like Steve Jobs?

Someone that's a tech visionary, who could introduce new products that make RIM a desired and highly profitable company again. But also someone widely regarded as arrogant, who polarizes and alienates many customers and staff and could be quite heartless.

 

[TxGoat]

Yes..... I'd like to see a part IV....

 

[SUroot]

I say no. They need a Tech visionary but that is not what Steve Jobs was. Steve was a Marketing guy. A guy who could take an existing product/invention/technology and Market it for apple in such a way that it looked like they invented it and that the only way to get it was to buy apple. RIM need something more substantial than that. They do need some design gurus though.

 

[Gmash]

I'm thinking it's too late. Blackberry is losing their niche in business, which they need to survive, and I don't see any way of them becoming the "cool" company. Sadly, I don't see much hope for them at this point. Usually when a company hires consultants to help them "explore their options" it is the beginning of the end.

 

[dan330]

i dont know what.. but they need something.. and fast!!!

 

[Hrethgir]

The problem is that even if the answer is yes, they need to hire another Steve Jobs, they don't exactly grow on trees. As much as I dislike Jobs, he was a very unique individual who was in the right place at the right time with the right ideas. You can't force that kind of thing to happen.