The Rise and Fall of Bell Labs: A Lesson in Innovation

This article explores the success and demise of Bell Labs. Its brilliance stemmed from a unique management style: granting brilliant scientists radical freedom and autonomy, fostering collaboration and innovation, and having visionary leaders select appropriate projects and talent. However, the information age and modern corporations' focus on short-term gains made this model difficult to replicate. The article argues that reviving the Bell Labs spirit requires giving scientists more freedom and time to achieve breakthroughs in technological innovation.