[snom370]

Absolutely true, execution is what matters. You can make a good business from a pretty standard idea. And the history is littered with examples of great technology that never succeeded, or only saw limited success.

On the other hand, you can have brilliant business operations and virtually no innovation for decades, until a better technology comes along and tanks your business. Although investing in technology is risky, failing to invest in new technology can be far riskier.

I'm pretty sure Nokia has great business operations, but considering how they're scrambling to release a new (wait, two new) mobile operating systems in response to the iPhone, they apparently failed to invest (or invest in the right) technology.