Leadership in Technology:
A Look at the Innovators of our Time
Table of contents
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………….3
Discussion Part 1……………………………………………………………………………………. .5
Discussion Part 2 ……………………………………………………………………………………..9
References……………………………………………………………………………………………….15
Introduction
Who are the technological innovators who have impacted our everyday lives? We see
ourselves using technology in our everyday lives, but who is truly behind these
innovations? The age of innovation has developed quickly throughout the years, and
innovators are competing to give their invention the quality, connection, and attractiveness
they need (Janszen, 2000). To be a leader in technology means that one must be able to
adapt with the changing times. Throughout the age of technology, examples of innovators
that are pioneers in their areas of expertise can easily come to mind, but many have failed
while others are still successful to this day.
What defines a leader in technology, and how do the changes they make impact the way
we interact with the world now? The age of efficiency began in the 1950s, which led to
better quality in goods. It allowed for an up rise in the 1970s and flexibility in the 1980s
(Janszen, 2000). In our global economy, “technology has become one of the main engines
of change and innovation” (Janszen, 2000). Innovation comes in different forms and sizes
that enable us to create and compete as well as inspire people to correlate with the
technology developing every second (Janszen, 2000). According to Felix Janszen,
innovations are the composite of two worlds, the technical world and the business world.
“To be able to permanently innovate, knowledge is paramount”, (2000). Innovators (in
other words leaders) rise up every day and make an impact in the way we run our
businesses, in the way we communicate, and in the way we learn (Janszen, 2000)
An effective and influential leader, according to Annie McKee, is one that has the “ability
to include both the intention and action as well as the ability to get people to do what is
desired by changing the way people think, feel, and act” (2004). This corresponds to the
leadership skills needed to be classified as an innovator of electronic technology. Being
able to put your innovations into the business world is risky when knowing there are only
two pathways for your product: the successful and the unsuccessful.
As mentioned before, the decision of translating your innovation into a business is a risky
decision; you either can go down the pathway of success or the pathway to failure. As an
innovator you need to be able to understand the roles of leadership. It is important to know
what it takes to make the world fall in love with your product and the risk it takes to
compete with other new innovators (McKee, 2000). In the very blink of an eye,
technological advances can pave the way for new innovators to step up to compete and
eventually change the way we see and use technology. A leader doesnt just become a
leader on his own; a leader needs to have followers and believers to become successful
(McKee, 2000).
Discussion Part 1 (Successful Leaders)
The opportunity for business in technology has grown larger with every passing year, but
this does not mean that it is stable. Many businesses have flourished and faltered in the
timeframe of only a few years. It is not always enough to only have the best product on the
market. It’s a simple fact that what is new and innovative one year will most likely be
considered outdated the next. Needless to say, in order to stay afloat in the arena of
technology, a company must have, at its head, forward thinking and adaptable leaders who
can embrace change. The main purpose for the development of technology is to make our
work and play, quicker, easier and more cost effective; and with these goals in mind,
leaders of the type mentioned above can succeed. There have been many successes in the
field of technology, and there have been many more failures. The successes, however, are
what we look forward to.
Steve Jobs is a name that has been held in high esteem in the world of technology. He was,
until recently, at the head of the company Apple Inc. which is based in Silicon Valley,
California. Together as a company, Jobs and Apple have been setting major design trends
in the recent wave of portable devices. He and the company accrued millions of followers
and customers throughout his later years of life. What is it that has got so many people
dying in anticipation waiting for the next product they release to hit stores? Many attribute
this to his magnificent set of leadership skills. What does this list of skills include? First
and foremost, he embodied the very definition of a visionary, which like all other great
leaders before him, allowed him to effectively inspire his generation. He was able to
convincingly paint an image in people’s minds of how great his product would be and
enticed them to buy it, simply through his presence and power of speech. Jobs would not
simply list off all the amazing capabilities of his products, but he would begin to tell a
story, and in the middle of his story, he would begin to work his product into people’s way
of thinking that would make them realize how much they needed it.
Steve Jobs was also an innovator on a level of his own. Jobs’ innovative mind was
