APPLE CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT IT STILL NEEDS STEVE JOBS

June 30 2009

Cupertino, CA – Over the last decade Apple’s increasing power and influence over the electronics marketplace has been unparalleled. Since Steve Jobs’ return to the company he helped created in 1997 Apple has gone from a second rate computer manufacturer to one of the top electronics manufacturers in the world and one of the
wealthiest. The continued success of the computer line has been bulwarked by the massively successful iPod and iPhone lines, success that has translated into global mindshare and revenue growth no one ever thought the company was capable of achieving.

With all that success it would be safe to assume that the company wouldn’t want to change a thing. Apple though has always been an innovator and now some in the company are considering whether or not the man who brought them to success is really all that necessary anymore. With Jobs’ return to the company after a six month leave of absence many are questioning how important he really is to the continued operation of the company. His absence from the day-to-day operations was no significant hindrance to their operations and many are eager to see the boss just disappear completely.    

“I can’t tell you what a relief it was. Really, I mean who doesn’t like it when the boss is sick and you just have a free and easy day? It was like that every day for six months.
Sure we still had to do our work but Steve is such a taskmaster that even that seemed easy. I can honestly say that for the first time in the seven years I’ve worked to Apple I enjoyed coming to work but now all that is gone,” said an employee who preferred to remain anonymous. “I’m already dragging my feet. I can feel this dark cloud over me and over most of my co-workers. Steve has done great things for the company but I just wish he would stay away. It would make it easier for everyone.”

Jobs took a leave of absence in early January for health reasons. It was recently revealed that in that timeframe he underwent a liver transplant. Jobs previously left the company in 1985, a decision which almost sank the company.

“There are few magnates that have the kind of direct influence over the direction of their company that Steve Jobs has. Likely due to the fact that he started the company himself he feels like he has to be hands on all the time. That can be a little oppressive for some workers and cause stress but the rewards can also be great especially when the person is as creative and intelligent as Jobs,” said Scrape TV Business analyst Ken Green. “The question of course is whether or not the company can maintain its momentum and continue to innovate without him at the helm. Microsoft has done it so the assumption is that Apple could do the same thing, of course that all depends on who comes in to take over for Jobs.”

Much speculation revolved around the line of succession at Apple in the wake of Jobs’ illness. Stocks for the company dropped dramatically last year when a false rumour of a heart attack made the rounds.

“They could always go to an autonomous collective if they so choose. That would give them the freedom to be creative and free them of the bonds of being responsible to a boss. That’s never worked in practice before but there’s no better place to try then in a company with all kinds of money to waste like Apple,” continued Green. “Of course 1985 is inevitably going to come up again and the question as to whether or not the company can continue to succeed without Jobs in place is an important one to ask. Ultimately though if the staff doesn’t like him then they won’t respect him and you end up with a bunch of people just working for a paycheque. Of course once you start questioning, then perhaps the battle has already been lost.”

Reportedly staff members across the Apple Campus have been putting away their silly string and party hats as Jobs’ comes ever closer to returning to work.

Martin Philton, Technology Correspondent

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