“Innovation has nothing to do with how many R & D dollars you have. When Apple came up with the Mac, IBM was spending at least 100 times more on R & D. It’s not about money. It’s about the people you have, how you’re led, and how much you get it.”
- February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011
- American
- Entrepreneur, businessman, industrial designer
- He brought to the world revolutionary products that combined technology and design at a high level, such as the personal computer Macintosh, iPhone, and iPad, and also revolutionized the music industry with the iPod, iTunes, and iTunes Store.
Quote
“Innovation has nothing to do with how many R & D dollars you have. When Apple came up with the Mac, IBM was spending at least 100 times more on R & D. It’s not about money. It’s about the people you have, how you’re led, and how much you get it.”
Explanation
In this quote, Steve Jobs argues that innovation is not solely determined by the resources or budget a company has for research and development (R&D). He points to Apple’s success with the Macintosh, which was developed at a time when IBM was spending significantly more on R&D, yet Apple was able to produce a game-changing product. Jobs emphasizes that great people, effective leadership, and a deep understanding of the product and its purpose are far more important than just financial investment. Innovation stems from having the right vision, team, and focus.
Jobs’ perspective challenges the idea that success is purely driven by capital and resources. Instead, he highlights that it is the people behind the technology—those with a clear sense of purpose and vision—who are responsible for creating truly innovative products. This belief was central to Apple’s approach, where Jobs fostered a culture of creativity, collaboration, and a relentless drive to create products that users didn’t even know they wanted, but could not live without.
In today’s business world, this quote remains relevant. Many successful startups and companies in various industries, such as tech, entertainment, and healthcare, have proven that innovation is more about the people and culture within a company than the amount of money they spend on R&D. Companies that invest in their teams, cultivate leadership, and maintain a strong understanding of their market are often the ones that lead in disruptive innovation and long-term success.
