Platforms and Luck

On ZDNet today, Zack Whittaker writes about Yahoo!'s attempt to launch a new browser. In his words, " ...it couldn’t even do that right without fouling it up. Yahoo could probably trip over a chain in the street and unwittingly pull the plug on the Great Lakes — it’s that unlucky."

Hmmm ....

Luck doesn't have anything to do with the state of Yahoo!

Much of the best talent has left Yahoo! over the past five years. Think about it: if you're a rock star programmer or manager, is Yahoo! where you really want to work?

This isn't to say that Yahoo! is plagued by B- and C-level people, to paraphrase Steve Jobs. Are there smart people there? Of course. But I'd bet that many of them have abandoned ship, especially over the last few years. In-demand people have their choice of top-notch outfits.

And even über-talented folks need strong, seasoned, and stable leadership from the top, not exactly something that Yahoo! has had over the past five years.