In the name of diversification?

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222274#Comment_222274

why the company is spreading itself in so many different areas and directions.

Every one of the projects you have listed has one common denominator: They are all centered on making Bible study better, faster, easier, and more convenient.And Bob Pritchett did say Logos is all about Bible study.

They are not cannibalizing the main development teams to put people on the new products.

True. And I am happy they don't.

on the other hand Logos is engaging in ever new products

Logos could just devote all resources to one item at a time. But that would not speed things up.

Just compare these two scenarios:
Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, practiced what she called "serial monogamy." And although she had multiple partners, having them one at a time did not produce any progeny. Of course this was Maggie's goal.
Jacob, aka Israel, married two sisters and, along with their hand-maidens, fathered 12 sons. It was apparently Jacob's intention to become the father of many.

If Logos want's to avoid productivity they can adopt the Sanger plan of serial development and produce close to nothing.
If Logos wants to encourage productivity they will fare better with the Jacob plan of parallel development. Sure there will be an occasional problem child but having two stalled projects out of twenty beats having one stalled project out of one.,

deleted my addendum due to the linked site's posts not being as nice as the Logos forum posters are accustomed to.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222295#Comment_222295

I know we're not the ones running Logos; Bob is. But I can't help but wonder out loud (again) why the company is spreading itself in so many different areas and directions...

I welcome Logos' vision, however, I too wonder about such rapid expansion. I worry about this due to the fact that I have seen too many businesses undergo rapid expansion only to find that it was suddenly necessary to drastically contract. I would not care to see this happen with Logos. Caution, my friends, but don't lose the vision.

Mark Barnes

I share your concerns - sometimes. But then I remind myself that a truly innovative company needs to go down some paths that others never go (and down some blind alleys, too). It's actually always been the Logos way:

I'm not convinced that all of Logos' projects are good projects that contribute to the core goal. But I have a remarkably poor record in predicting which ones will be most beneficial - so I'm content for Logos to keep experimenting whilst I keep enjoying the improvements in the core software.

Tobias Lampert

Logos could just devote all resources to one item at a time. But that would not speed things up.

Just compare these two scenarios:
Margaret
Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, practiced what she called
"serial monogamy." And although she had multiple partners, having them
one at a time did not produce any progeny. Of course this was Maggie's
goal.
Jacob, aka Israel, married two sisters and, along with their
hand-maidens, fathered 12 sons. It was apparently Jacob's intention to
become the father of many.

If Logos want's to avoid productivity they can adopt the Sanger plan of serial development and produce close to nothing.
If
Logos wants to encourage productivity they will fare better with the
Jacob plan of parallel development. Sure there will be an occasional
problem child but having two stalled projects out of twenty beats having
one stalled project out of one.,

Matthew, context matters! My point is not Logos engaging in too many products. I am saying that customers could receive the impression that
Logos is getting engaged in too many products when they notice that bugs aren't adressed properly, shipping dates are being
postponed and long promised features like PBB are just not getting addressed the way they should.

In the end, it's very often the impression that makes customers buy a
product or not, whether that impression is correct or not. So I'm not
saying Logos should hold off from designing new products - I'm just
saying that when you're coming out with new products you have to make sure you're doing everything you can to take care of the established ones. And, to be honest, I don't get that impression with Logos 4 all the time.

DMB

I'd agree until I saw one of the Proclaim sub-features. Then it became obvious where Logos is going, and it all makes sense. If I were one of their Bible software competitors, I'd REALLY be concerned about how much longer I could stay in this kind of game. It's clear the primary benefit of Proclaim isn't showing slides/videos/hymns on Sunday morning, although that'll pay the bills for a while.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222358#Comment_222358

I'd agree until I saw one of the Proclaim sub-features. Then it became obvious where Logos is going, and it all makes sense. If I were one of their Bible software competitors, I'd REALLY be concerned about how much longer I could stay in this kind of game. It's clear the primary benefit of Proclaim isn't showing slides/videos/hymns on Sunday morning, although that'll pay the bills for a while.

My sentiments exactly. Have you noticed "the competition" has been active lately? They can see the same writing on the wall that you and I have. They perceive that LOGOS is on to something and they had better respond before they fall too far behind. Bob Pritchett has said he is not trying to put them out of business. Matthew says, "If they think LOGOS will sit around waiting for them to catch up, they are mistaken"

fgh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222250#Comment_222250

So Logos probably knows that they've maxed out the development teams for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android

Do you base that assumption on this page: http://www.logos.com/about/careers? [:P]

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222605#Comment_222605

So Logos probably knows that they've maxed out the development teams for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android

Do you base that assumption on this page: http://www.logos.com/about/careers?

Hmm, looks inviting. Perhaps I should apply as a customer relations specialist. With my sterling personality and friendliness, I should be a knock-out ! [6]

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222618#Comment_222618

With my sterling personality and friendliness, I should be a knock-out !

I agree! ... kinda. [6]

Milford Charles Murray

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222308#Comment_222308

I share your concerns - sometimes. But then I remind myself that a truly innovative company needs to go down some paths that others never go (and down some blind alleys, too). It's actually always been the Logos way:

www.notescraps.com

www.seminarylibrary.com

almanac.logos.com

I'm not convinced that all of Logos' projects are good projects that contribute to the core goal. But I have a remarkably poor record in predicting which ones will be most beneficial - so I'm content for Logos to keep experimenting whilst I keep enjoying the improvements in the core software.

Peace to you, Mark! and! Joy in the Lord Always!

I do appreciate everything you've done for the Forum, Mark, having been personally blessed by quite a number of your "offerings." (to the Forum and -- I'm sure --to the Lord!)

You mentioned notescraps. I remember Logos promoting those during the days of the Old Newsgroups.

In December I installed a new i7 computer with Windows7 on it; and it has "sticky notes," which I use all the time. I wonder, did this descend from Logos' original idea????

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222625#Comment_222625

In December I installed a new i7 computer with Windows7 on it; and it has "sticky notes," which I use all the time. I wonder, did this descend from Logos' original idea????

I doubt it. There have been various programs emulating sticky notes around for years. Several were in existence (turbonotes for one) long before Logos developed notescraps.

Peace to you Milford.

JCJN

The are great concerns and question. I look forward to the response.

Jim

[:)]

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222877#Comment_222877

If we take a gander at other other industries we can see examples where moderate size companies once they have gained market dominance go wild and try to continue growth with product diversification. However, comapny after company have grown to fast and have been unable to keep the rate of growth going as they stopped being able to deliver the "goods" so to speak as they move from their core business. Will this happen to Logos...well as much love as seen on the web site surely not after all its a "christian" company...but who knows once a company has been bitten by the hair of the dog. Marketing genius indeed but I for one am going to be a bit cautious of how I spend my money with the company given other examples in the industry like Biblesoft.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222628#Comment_222628

There have been various programs emulating sticky notes around for years.

Ever see Microsoft Windows Version 1.0?

--"Sticky Notes"

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222882#Comment_222882

Marketing genius indeed but I for one am going to be a bit cautious of how I spend my money with the company given other examples in the industry like Biblesoft.

OK, what happened to Biblesoft. I believe I had heard of them, but never checked them out before. They appear to still be in business according to their webpage, but their offerings are somewhat pitiful.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222893#Comment_222893

Biblesoft sold the whole company with no next generation ready to roll out as their base found market alternatives from what i understand. Talking about wasting money...egads

Mark Barnes

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222882#Comment_222882

Marketing genius indeed but I for one am going to be a bit cautious of how I spend my money with the company given other examples in the industry like Biblesoft.

A few minutes on their forums really puts the Logos 4 issues in perspective, doesn't it? Sad, though. My first Bible software was PC Study Bible, and I progressed from 5.25" disks to 3.5" and eventually CD-ROM. It was a great product - better than Logos in those days.

There are no guarantees with any product. Even Microsoft are not immune, I invested £100s in Microsoft's Mobile products over four years, only for them to ditch the system because they fell too far behind their competitors and couldn't catch up. That said, I really believe Logos offer the least risk. They're a very big company, it's not a couple of guys working out of a rented office. And the deals they have with so many publishers lead me to believe that even if (God forbid!) they were to go bust, another company would pick up the pieces and take over. But crucially, Logos have sound financial strategy (not committing to new publications until they know they can sell enough, for example), and they're so far ahead of the competition there is zero danger that they're going to fall behind any time soon. So there is a risk - but with Logos I'm sure the risk is minimal.

SteveF

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222618#Comment_222618

OFF Topic

Hmm, looks inviting. Perhaps I should apply as a customer relations specialist. With my sterling personality and friendliness, I should be a knock-out !

I do so enjoy your posts, George. They often make me smile.

Blessings

Colin Thornby

Diversification is a strategy often used by companies in order to drive customers to their core products. For example, there are two goals to the iOS apps, I imagine. To serve existing customers, but also to encourage new customers to buy core packages which they can then access on their laptop/desktop and iOS device. The Android version will do the same.

I don’t know much about Proclaim - it isn’t a product I’m much interested in, so I haven’t investigated it.

Diversification is a legitimate and often used business strategy to get more customers. If you look at most of the products carefully, you’ll see how they could fit into Logos’ business strategy. If you get more customers, you have better economies of scale, can make more money, and invest more in developing / consolidating product.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222899#Comment_222899

Marketing genius indeed but I for one am going to be a bit cautious of how I spend my money with the company given other examples in the industry like Biblesoft.

A few minutes on their forums really puts the Logos 4 issues in perspective, doesn't it? Sad, though. My first Bible software was PC Study Bible, and I progressed from 5.25" disks to 3.5" and eventually CD-ROM. It was a great product - better than Logos in those days.

There are no guarantees with any product. Even Microsoft are not immune, I invested £100s in Microsoft's Mobile products over four years, only for them to ditch the system because they fell too far behind their competitors and couldn't catch up. That said, I really believe Logos offer the least risk. They're a very big company, it's not a couple of guys working out of a rented office. And the deals they have with so many publishers lead me to believe that even if (God forbid!) they were to go bust, another company would pick up the pieces and take over. But crucially, Logos have sound financial strategy (not committing to new publications until they know they can sell enough, for example), and they're so far ahead of the competition there is zero danger that they're going to fall behind any time soon. So there is a risk - but with Logos I'm sure the risk is minimal.

Really it is sad for me I preferred that product over my Logos stuff but that is a dead issue at this point. Market and company changes are expected I even upgraded to version 4 about 15 months after its release and I'm still not happy about it. Indeed Logos has excelled which I bet means that it is a target of taking over other firms or it is (or will become a target for take over) given the nature of it's cross platform options in a growing e-book market place..can you say amazon. I would just say enjoy the product and appreciate what it does but I wouldn't load up in the hope that Logos will become the dominate e-book/e-magazine platform in the market place.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222901#Comment_222901

OFF Topic

Hmm, looks inviting. Perhaps I should apply as a customer relations specialist. With my sterling personality and friendliness, I should be a knock-out !

I do so enjoy your posts, George. They often make me smile.

Blessings

Thank you. Sometimes I feel that I'm more of a pebble in some shoes.

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222882#Comment_222882

One of the "things" to note is that Logos' spreading out is not based upon diversification but integration.

Just a couple of points. The note program was actually a test project as they were launching into WPF programming they wanted to investigate it, notescraps then was integral to the early formation of L4. Proclaim is already showing signs (as I understand it) of integration with L4 in some way. I'm not part of the program, but I'm reading between the lines in the Proclaim forum.

Bible Study Magazine is the most diverse extension at this point, but consider for a moment what it does in forming a bridge between the analog world of people who are just learning to study the Bible and the most digitally advanced company dedicated to Bible study. It seems a good fit to me (Though I still want BSM in Logos format.)

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222303#Comment_222303

I welcome Logos' vision, however, I too wonder about such rapid expansion. I worry about this due to the fact that I have seen too many businesses undergo rapid expansion only to find that it was suddenly necessary to drastically contract. I would not care to see this happen with Logos. Caution, my friends, but don't lose the vision.

Logos has already done this and learned their lesson. They rapidly expanded by hiring too many people about a decade ago, and then realized they weren't ready for that growth and had to shrink back down. They are much more stable now (and profitable this time) and ready to take on steady sustained growth. Bob put some of the lessons he learned from this past experience into his book Fire Someone Today.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222893#Comment_222893

Marketing genius indeed but I for one am going to be a bit cautious of how I spend my money with the company given other examples in the industry like Biblesoft.

OK, what happened to Biblesoft. I believe I had heard of them, but never checked them out before. They appear to still be in business according to their webpage, but their offerings are somewhat pitiful.

You both just made a strong case FOR the diversification LOGOS has done. Bob Pritchett has a vision of where he wants to go. Most of the other Bible software companies are only reacting to what LOGOS is doing..

I will keep investing in my Logos library because the usefulness grows exponentially with each new resource added.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/222904#Comment_222904

Indeed Logos has excelled which I bet means that it is a target of taking over other firms or it is (or will become a target for take over)

Familiarize yourself with Logos' past and you will not worry about takeovers. They've been down that road before and survived. It won't happen again. I also don't see them buying up their inferior competitors just to deep-six them. That is Microsoft's specialty. [:)]

I wouldn't load up in the hope that Logos will become the dominate e-book/e-magazine platform in the market place.

That is not their goal either. It is about Bible study. And they do already dominate that market.