A classic example of the conflict [between the skills, mindsets and structures needed for discovery and colonization] is the story of Lotus 1-2-3 in the 1980s. Before Lotus was acquired by IBM it was an independent company that created the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet software – a huge success in the market that brought this hitherto little-known company a considerable profit and profile. However, five years on, top management became concerned that the company’s success and growth was leading to a loss of entrepreneurial spirit. To put this concern to the test, they took the CVs of the first 50 people hired by Lotus back in the early 1980s, changed their names and put them in the application pool. Not one was invited for interview. This tells you that these entrepreneurs, pioneers, revolutionaries even, no longer ‘fitted’ into the new culture.
source: Emerald Now Spotlight on Constantinos Markides
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