At one time Nokia represented 54% of the Finnish stock market. They were also a major employer of Finns. Since their change of strategy two years ago it seems they have gone from bad to worse, from the frying pan into the fire, and now it seems are planning even to undermine their own support base in Finland by moving to Asia.
Just because your own strategy has gone down a blind alley doesn’t mean you should blindly copy everyone else – that’s what Microsoft did for years before realising they needed to do things differently, which they now seem to be doing. In fact, when all you do is copy the opposition, all it means is you have run out of ideas yourself.
The Finns themselves must be seething with how things have gone, their National Treasure has been sacrificed on the altar of poor decisions along with some very good developers in MeeGo and Symbian phone operating systems. This latest move only shows that Nokia and Finland will not be synonymous for very much longer. Not if the current strategy continues, it seems.
People pay extra for Apple products because their value exceeds their price. Perhaps Nokia should have made more of being “Made in Europe” which would certainly add a few sales, and people would be prepared to pay extra for such a label too. But no, Nokia goes down the route of Microsoftisation, with a Microsoftised boss at a time when Microsoft is really not the public’s first choice (when they are given one).
Well, don’t blame, Elop, blame the Nokia board of Directors, after all, Elop is only doing what they asked of him. The lack of vision, imagination and sense has to be laid to rest with the Board. My only question would be, did they plan this move to Asia all along?
Alas, poor Nokia! I knew him, Finn; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy; he hath borne my words on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! My gorge rises at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now?
The Prince of Denmark’s monologue in Shakespeare’s Hamlet could have been written for Nokia.
Fifth Decade 