For some companies used to riding high find that falling out of Favor is often a mystery and can be as difficult to understand as what it took to gain favor. It is often quicker and easier to fall out of favor.
Sometimes all it takes is a simple mistep or a damaging rumor and the seemingly endless good fortunes of a company can begin to race dramatically in reverse after years of success maintaining customer faith and loyalty.
What is also known is that it is much much harder to regain favor after a fall from grace.
Once customer faith and trust is breached or major errors are unearthed it is extremely hard to guage just how deep and profound the negative impact and affects are.
Apple is the latest company learning this bitter lesson. Their faux paux over the maps debacle has sent Apple reeling and doing serious damage control.
What will come of it is uncertain at this time. Samsung, Google and others are hoping this trips up the market leader. At least enough to allow them to get a foothold in the marketplace where they couldn’t prior to Apple’s bad move. Observers are not surprised that Apple fell but are interested in how they will react without a Steve Jobs at the helm.