You could say, running the company with MBAs, instead of BSEEs, when their competitors were doing the opposite.
Putting the money they spent on acquisitions, into manufacturing technology, process innovation, etc. would have kept them right up front.
As for paying for talent, they certainly paid enough dollars for talent, but could have directed those same dollars at fewer resources with the talent they actually needed. That means paying top dollar for the right people, and skipping the rest.
If they let others poach, that is because those competitors were smarter at valuing talent while Intel either slept or fell victim to broken HR policies.
Putting the money they spent on acquisitions, into manufacturing technology, process innovation, etc. would have kept them right up front.
As for paying for talent, they certainly paid enough dollars for talent, but could have directed those same dollars at fewer resources with the talent they actually needed. That means paying top dollar for the right people, and skipping the rest.
If they let others poach, that is because those competitors were smarter at valuing talent while Intel either slept or fell victim to broken HR policies.