On 10 February 2003, Reid Watts reflected on "The Slingshot Syndrome" one year later... as part of his "Making Sense of It All" column.  Click here to read the author's reflections.

The Slingshot Syndrome: Why America's Leading Technology Firms Fail at Innovation (by Reid McRae Watts, Writers Club Press, 196 pages, $15.95) predicts how information technology corporations, from small startups to the largest worldwide corporations, will have to change in order to survive, and what actions investors, managers, IT professionals, and students should take to succeed in these rapidly changing times.

"Slingshot" in the title refers to David’s slaying of Goliath using his sling, and then decapitating him with his own sword. In the 1980’s and 1990’s fast-moving lightly armed startups slayed almost all of the computer industry leaders, often with their own technology.  In the late 1990’s and 2000’s the same syndrome is becoming evident in the telecommunications equipment industry.  The Slingshot Syndrome analyzes why this happened and continues to happen, and what established players must do to survive and thrive. 

If you are involved in the Information Technology industry in any way, even as an investor or student considering entering the industry, this book will help you understand the transition it is going through, what will happen in the end, and where the opportunities are.

The Slingshot Syndrome can be ordered through Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and iUniverse online.

If you have comments about a vendor source, we would appreciate if you would drop an email note to:  slingshot@progenyvc.com

You may also special order "The Slingshot Syndrome" through your favorite book dealer.  Just note the ISBN 0-595-20813-4.