Plattner on Plattner: Business ByDesign
One of the pleasures and privileges of attending customer events is the opportunity to spend time with the lead company's leadership. Late yesterday, bloggers were treated to time with Hasso Plattner, an SAP co-founder, the man behind Hasso on Hasso and a straight shooter on difficult questions.
The above video provides a glimpse into the mind of a man who is wrestling with the science behind making large businesses more effective and the challenges of Business ByDesign.
Off camera, I asked Dr Plattner whether the Hasso on Hasso video was a marketing invention. It turns out that the final product was the result of his own scripting. When you look at it and note that at one point, Hasso 'the mad scientist' is boring the pants off Hasso 'the interviewer,' it becomes clear this is a man who has extraordinary self awareness. It was made all the more poignant by the fact that before we got into the discussion he said: "Is there someone here who is making sure I don't say the wrong thing." You cannot help but admire a person who knows who they are and is brutally honest about their own limitations.
SAP has had a rough ride the last couple of years, culminating in a gut wrenching change of leadership 100 days ago. Again, off camera I asked Dr Plattner whether he is happy with what's happening inside SAP. "Yes" was the blunt response. Experience suggests that if Dr Plattner is happy then there is a good chance that customers will be happy.
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