There is a fine line between guidelines/guardrails and suffocating control. Look at what DRM has done. Music sales are at an all time low. The iPhone for all its wonders is KILLING innovation. Well, to be clearer, Apple is killing innovation. Their commitment to DRM based music files and insane controls over application development is going to turn away consumers and developers. With Google’s new Android platform being completely open and cross-carrier supported we’re going to see some serious changes. Google is already courting developers that have been spurned by Apple. Let’s be honest, there is nothing more satisfying than sticking it to someone that has wronged you. I wouldn’t be surprised to see developers offer their applications exclusively to Google.
I’m not advocating a wild west attitude. However, I am advocating the need for guidelines that help drive innovation, encourage forward thinking, and embrace sharing. This concept isn’t limited to just Apple and Google. This applies to nearly every company, business, and organization out there today. From your state’s DMV to Major League Baseball to advertising agency I work at, innovation is the lifeblood that will keep the future bright. How we elect to balance a culture of constraints and open doors is paramount to the success of the individuals working for the company and the company itself.
The next time you think, let’s add some layers of protection, let’s try to manage this, let’s try to control it please think again. The level of control you try to enforce may just be your undoing. Embrace, if you will, and organized chaos. It’s being that close to out of control without being negligent or dangerous that makes things exciting and leads to breakthroughs.
Head of Social Media at Walgreens. Interactive marketer, innovator, boat rocker, continuous learner, movie lover, risk taker, dad and all around good guy. I'm always up for a spirited conversation. These are my thoughts and ramblings, not those of my employer.
