The R&D Metric Mark Hurd and HP Got Wrong

The R&D Metric Mark Hurd and HP Got Wrong

From The Innovators Studio with Phil McKinney by Phil McKinney

March 25, 2026 · 14 min · Season 21 · Episode 1

About this episode

Phil McKinney discusses critical innovation decisions and the impact of R&D metrics through a personal anecdote involving Mark Hurd at HP.

Twenty years. Nearly one thousand episodes on this show. And starting today, we're going to try something a little different this season. Season 21 is about the decisions that actually determine whether innovation lives or dies inside any organization. The real calls. Not the fluff stuff we read in academic textbooks. I want to actually put you in the rooms where these decisions are happening. What went right. What went wrong. My objective is to expose you to the patterns in innovation decisions so that you can recognize them. Recognize them in yourself, in the people you need to influence, long before you step into any landmines. So let's get into it. The Encounter on the Top Floor of Building 25 Making generational decisions on innovation investment can be a make-or-break moment. What I refer to as a CLM, a Career Limiting Move. In my case, it started with a chance conversation with Mark Hurd, HP's CEO. Let me take you back to 2005. HP headquarters is on Page Mill Road in Palo Alto, referred to internally as Building 25. The top floor is where all of the executive offices are. That's where Mark's office was. I was up there doing some meetings and got snagged by Mark. Now, Mark…

People in this episode

Host: Phil McKinney

Topics covered

  • innovation decisions
  • R&D metrics
  • business strategy
  • leadership
  • career limiting moves

Keywords

  • innovation
  • R&D
  • Mark Hurd
  • HP
  • business decisions
  • extreme benchmarking
  • career limiting moves

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: HP

Places: Palo Alto, Building 25

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