There is a could do and there is a want to do.

I'm pretty positive the could do was there but the want to do was missing.

There's more to organizations than just the CEO. Even if he wants to do something that doesn't translate into every product manager playing in the same direction and to the same goal.

People don't usually do things exactly opposite to what the chief says. But if he leaves room to play and interpret they'll try to continue as much as what they already were doing.

So really he should've checked the pace for replacement planning of Symbian with Meego in October or before and then said ok. this being a January decision makes you wonder what was going on.