The metastory here is actually about Intel, Boeing, and most recently, Chrysler. How they each did it is a little different, but they all turned the dial all the way to "short-term profit."
I often wonder whether there's a correlation between the reduction in a company's profitability and quality with its decision to hire cheaper offshore workers, or insourcing cheaper workers from abroad. I wonder if the smart money did any type of internal studies regarding this type of correlation.
Any strategy or tactic option works based on its fit with circumstances. Given that, it’s usually fine details of situation and execution that produce success or failure.
And where to find enough companies reflecting Intel’s situation, without confounding factors, for a survey?
“Correlations” are not the best inputs for business decisions.
But I don’t doubt there would have been lots of consultants ready to manufacture such a survey if Intel had signaled demand…