Intelligent reaction

Adam Bosworth (VP of Engineering for Google) gave a presentation (launches the presentation app) at a Salesforce.com event that talks about how software develop has changed that is worth listening to. Instead of "intelligent design", he thinks the successful companies will have "intelligent reaction". That is, they will smartly react to customers/partners desires rather than acting omniscient. One of Altus' portfolio companies is a great example of this. 1st Choice Vacation Rentals has evolved their offering in direct response to innovative customers. This approach has allowed them to bootstrap and remain profitable even through the darkest days of 2001-2003 while expanding their product offering well beyond most of their competition. It's fun to see these sorts of companies scoffed at by better funded organizations yet they are the ones that built a sustainable business model.