Sony 's Overview

Sony Corporation of America, based in New York City, is the U.S. subsidiary of Sony Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo. Sony is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications, and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its music, motion picture, television, computer entertainment, and online businesses make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world. Sony's principal U.S. businesses include Sony Electronics Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., and a 50% interest in Sony BMG Music Entertainment, one of the largest recorded music companies in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $70.3 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, and it employs 163,000 people worldwide. Sony's consolidated sales in the U.S. for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 were $18.9 billion. ( http://www.sony.com/SCA/index.shtml)

I believe technologies are the key to growth for big companies such as Sony. Like the pursuit of good health, the quest for corporate growth is an everlasting and disciplined exercise. Just as fit individuals must strengthen their bodies through a multitude of activities-cardiovascular, muscular, dietary, and others-corporations must pursue well-rounded growth strategies, from incremental improvements to breakthroughs that create new industries and markets.

Although incremental innovations are critical for protecting revenues through growing market share, substantial growth over the long horizon requires discontinuous innovation.

Michael Tushman and Charles O'Reilly suggest that discontinuous innovation involves breaking with the past to create new technologies, processes, and organizational "S-curves" that result in significant leaps in the value delivered to customers. Similarly, Clay Christensen, Gary Hamel