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Hard lesson for Zuma from IT pioneer who did right thing [Cape Argus (South Africa)](Cape Argus (South Africa) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The Internet has become so ubiquitous it feels as if it has been here forever instead of only 20 years. The giants who pioneered the system still walk among us. Back in 1995, Brendan Eich was a young programmer working at Netscape, responsible for the dominant web-browser of the 1990s. Eich developed the JavaScript programming language that is now behind just about every website. After Netscape folded, Eich helped spin out the remnants of the software from AOL as the Mozilla Foundation. They released their Firefox web browser in November 2004 and now have over 450 million users around the world. It is the most recognisable open source software the average person is likely to have experienced. Eich was made the first Chief Technical Officer at the Mozilla Corporation. As far as developers are concerned, Eich was royalty. Until March 24 this year. In 2008, in a heated referendum, California went to the polls to decide on Proposition 8; defining marriage as only between a man and a woman, and banning gay marriage in California. Any person who donated over $1 000 to any of the campaigns had to give names and addresses. One of the donors to support Proposition 8 - to ban gay marriage - was Brendan Eich. This caused a minor flurry of outrage at Mozilla but it settled down. Until 24 March this year. On that date, Mozilla Corporation announced that Brendan Eich was their new CEO. Good CEOs set the overall strategy, they drive execution, they set the ethical tone of their organisation, and they act as the representation of that organisation in public. They are both responsible for selling the company and representing what that company aspires to be. Apple's mobile devices, and their image of designer chic, would not be quite so successful if Steve Jobs had dressed like a vagrant. Virgin's many products - from airlines, to mobile phones, to space travel - would not be quite as inspiring without Richard Branson. There are numerous companies where the choice of CEO is critical to perception of the company. Firefox and the other open source products which drive the Mozilla Foundation's good fortune, depend on the goodwill of tens of thousands of volunteers. The appointment of Eich resulted in immediate backlash from a community that is educated, global and very liberal. Gay Firefox developers threatened a boycott. After 11 days, during which Eich claimed he was entitled to his views and that they wouldn't affect his performance as CEO, he resigned. There are companies for whom a bad CEO is not life-threatening. As successful as Samsung is, few would recognise their chairman, Lee Kun-hee. Some companies are like political parties, transcending their products to become the possession of their stakeholders. Eich was a distraction who threatened Mozilla's future. He recognised that and did the right thing. Would that Jacob Zuma cared as much about the future of the country he leads instead of his own insufferable skin. Would that ANC members cared as much about the reputation and future of their party as do the Mozilla volunteers. Eich will always be honoured as the person who built some of the critical foundations of the internet. Zuma will only ever be remembered for the hubris of his ruined estate at Nkandla. l Chait is a data engineer and development economist at Whythawk. [email protected] Cape Argus (c) 2014 Independent Newspapers (Pty) Limited. All rights strictly reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info, an Albawaba.com company |