Technology companies have attempted this strategy in the past with little success, according to David Yoffie, a professor at Harvard Business School. International Business Machines Corp., Nokia Oyj and Hewlett-Packard Co. have over the past several decades added businesses, then sold them off when challenges arise.

Unlike Berkshire, which typically buys well-established companies with steady cash flow, Page must manage a conglomerate tasked with creating hit new technology products.

“You have to be able to manage the innovation process and decide what investments are worth making and which ones are not,” Yoffie said. “The history of this in the technology industry is littered with failure.”

First « 1 2 3 » Next