"It's depressing to watch a mean, lean, fighting machine of a company deteriorate into mediocracy (sic). In Silicon Valley we call this process the "bozo explosion." This downward slide seems inevitable after a company achieves success--often during the years immediately following an IPO. The purpose of this article is to prevent, or at least postpone, this process in your company," writes marketing guru Guy Kawasaki.
He then provides an amusing Top 10 list of the warning signs, now up to 14 (anyone can suggest more). A classic example:
6. Your HR department requires an MBA degree for any position; it also requires five to ten years work experience in an industry that is only four years old.
Kawasaki did two stints at Apple and "Infinite Loop" is written all over a couple of them (10 The success of a competitor upsets you more than the loss of a customer.). However, I expect a lot of people will spot the real target. As one comment says: "Oh my God! It looks like Google! No?"
