The Full-Stack Strategy
The biggest debate in tech during the 1980s was open versus closed systems. There was a unanimous agreement. Open systems were better and if you needed proof of that look at how Microsoft business was doing. Microsoft was dominating. Steve Jobs only believed in tightly integrated systems. "I became even more of a believer in providing end-to-end solutions," he said. Once consumers started using mass devices there was only one company uniquely positioned to take advantage of this. Dell and Hewlett-Packard made hardware. Sony produced devices. Adobe and Microsoft developed software. Apple did all of the above (and better). They had full control of the user experience. "We can do things the other guys can't do" Jobs proclaimed. Finding a strong position you can uniquely provide from takes time to develop. It requires long-term thinking most don't have.