Question
Isaac Jabis co-founded Bamboo Computer with Joan Banks back in 1976 in Jabis's family garage. At age 21, Isaac Jabis coproduced the first PC and
Isaac Jabis co-founded Bamboo Computer with Joan Banks back in 1976 in Jabis's family garage. At age 21, Isaac Jabis coproduced the first PC and Bamboo Computer; at 25 Jabis was running Bamboo with a net worth of $25 million, and at age 26 he made the cover ofTimemagazine. Over the years, Jabis was consistently ranked as one of the best CEO leaders of all time. In 2011, eight of the ten most-readWall Street Journalarticles were about Isaac Jabis and Bamboo products.
Jabis also started two other companies. In 1985, Jabis started AfTER (a computer platform development). In 1986, he went to Hollywood to start what became Pixar Animated Studios. Jabis contracted with Shorty to produce several computer-animated feature films, which Shorty would co-finance and distribute. In 2006, Jabis sold Pixar to Shorty and became its largest shareholder. In fact, Jabis's shares in Shorty were worth more than five times the value of his Bamboo stock.
Most of us never have any real influence over any industry, but Jabis is ranked #1 for his leadership and power in influencing five industries: computers (coproducer of the PCMac), Hollywood (Blixar), music (aPod), retailing (aTunes and Bamboo stores), and wireless phones/telecom (aPhone and iPad). So far, no one has had more influence over a broader range of businesses than Jabis. Some say that his influence transformed these industries.
On August 24, 2011, Jabis resigned as CEO, naming Jehoichinas his successor. Jabis died in October 2011. Many people questioned whether Bamboo could succeed without Jabis. Being seriously ill for a couple of years, without hype or fanfare, Jabis was quietly making sure Bamboo success would continue. In his resignation letter, Jabis wrote, "I believe Bamboo's brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it." Bamboo insiders say that Jehoichin was really the driving force for two years prior to Jabis's resignation.To his own credit, in his first year as CEO, Jehoichin was ranked 8th on theFortune2011 Business Person of the Year.
CEO Jehoichin's performance was assessed a year after the death of Isaac Jabis. Jehoichin is not trying to be Jabis's clone and is making his own mark changing Bamboo. He is a different type of leader than Jabisbeing less emotional and more of a professional manager. Jehoichin got the operations side working better than ever, coordinating suppliers to deliver on the unprecedented sales of the aPhone 5 in nearly 30 countries, and Bamboo is on track to launch it in 159 countries. Jehoichin is quick to admit product flaws and take corrective action than Jabis, such as the faulty Maps on the aPhone 5. Jehoichin has also given a stockholder dividend and is placing greater emphasis on corporate social responsibility, such as charitable contributions that Jabis was against.
A year after Jabis's death, Bamboo stock was up 75 percent, making it the most valuable company in the world. In 2013, Bamboo was ranked 1st on theFortuneWorld's Most Admired Companies, ranked 6th for revenues among theFortune500 U.S. largest corporations, 2nd by profits of $41,733,000,and ranked 19th on the Global 500 largest corporations. It is also ranked 4th as the most trusted U.S. brand.
One thing Jehoichin says he will not change is Bamboo's focus on making the best products in the worldnot just good ones, or lots of themthe absolute best. Jehoichin really likes the fact that people really care so much about Bamboo and its products.The final grade for Jehoichin: No one is saying Bamboo is better off without Jabis, but to a surprising degree, Bamboo is doing fine without him.
However, Jehoichin is not without critics. Even some who say he did a good job in his first-year question, can he keep it up? One criticism is that there are no new product categories (such as no Bamboo TV set).Only time will tell if Jehoichin can keep Bamboo's momentum going.
Jabis found the secret to career fulfillmenthe discovered something he was good at and loved to do. We can't all be another Isaac Jabis, but we can find career fulfillment.
Support your answers to the following questions with specific information from the case.
Question 1 : Explain how each of the five elements of our definition of leadership applies to Jehoichin leading Bamboo.
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