As a result, he decided not to compete with Dell, and shifted IBM's business focus to consulting, the most precious resource IBM possesses. When dealing with such a situation, the most important factor is how to shift corporate focus. GE bought NBC and greatly developed their financial services. They have very little in common with today's Hitachi. GE shifted their business focus in a truly audacious manner.
Japanese companies are incapable of doing so.
It is impossible to shift focus in this manner. Japanese companies remind me of a skier who tumbles down a steep slope without being able to shift his bodyweight from one foot to the other. The current corporate competition is between Godzillas and Titans. Compaq realized the existence of Godzillas 10 years after their birth and is currently putting all its energy into setting up an equivalent calling center. Although probably a Titan, the company is after all, more on the mortal side.