IBM: The Rise and Fall and Reinvention of a Global Icon (History of Computing)

A history of one of the most influential American companies of the last century. For decades, IBM shaped the way the world did business. IBM products were in every large organization, and IBM corporate culture established a management style that was imitated by companies around the globe. It was "Big Blue, " an icon. And yet over the years, IBM has gone through both failure and success, surviving flatlining revenue and forced reinvention. The company almost went out of business in the early 1990s, then came back strong with new business strategies and an emphasis on artificial intelligence. In this authoritative, monumental history, James Cortada tells the story of one of the most influential American companies of the last century. Cortada, a historian who worked at IBM for many years, describes IBM's technology breakthroughs, including the development of the punch card (used for automatic tabulation in the 1890 census), the calculation and printing of the first Social Security checks in the 1930s, the introduction of the PC to a mass audience in the 1980s, and the company's shift in focus from hardware to software. He discusses IBM's business culture and its orientation toward employees and customers; its global expansion; regulatory and legal issues, including antitrust litigation; and the track records of its CEOs. The secret to IBM's unequalled longevity in the information technology market, Cortada shows, is its capacity to adapt to changing circumstances and technologies. A history of one of the most influential American companies of the last century. For decades, IBM shaped the way the world did business. IBM products were in every large organization, and IBM corporate culture established a management style that was imitated by companies around the globe. It was "Big Blue, " an icon. And yet over the years, IBM has gone through both failure and success, surviving flatlining revenue and forced reinvention. The company almost went out of business in the early 1990s, then came back strong with new business strategies and an emphasis on artificial intelligence. In this authoritative, monumental history, James Cortada tells the story of one of the most influential American companies of the last century. Cortada, a historian who worked at IBM for many years, describes IBM's technology breakthroughs, including the development of the punch card (used for automatic tabulation in the 1890 census), the calculation and printing of the... Series Page 2 Title Page 3 Copyright Page 4 Dedication 5 Table of Contents 6 Preface 12 I: From Birth to Identity: IBM in Its Early Years, 1880s–1945 25 1. Origins, 1880s–1914 26 2. Thomas J. Watson Sr. and the Creation of IBM, 1914–1924 50 3. The Emergence of IBM and the Culture of THINK 83 4. IBM and the Great Depression 110 5. IBM in World War II, 1939–1945 137 II: IBM the Computer Behemoth, 1945–1985 161 6. IBM Gets into the Computer Business, 1945–1964 162 7. How Customers, IBM, and a New Industry Evolved, 1945–1964 190 8. System 360: One of the Greatest Products in History? 215 9. “The IBM Way”: How It Worked, 1964–1993 243 10. “The IBM Way”: What the World Saw, 1964–1993 266 11. IBM on the Global Stage 290 12. Two Decades of Antitrust Suits, 1960s–1980s 330 13. Communist Computers 357 14. “A Tool for Modern Times”: IBM and the Personal Computer 380 III: A Time of Crisis, 1985–1994 417 15. Storms, Crisis, and Near Death, 1985–1993 418 16. IBM’s Initial Response, 1985–1993 435 17. How IBM Was Rescued, 1993–1994 465 IV: IBM in the New Century 494 18. A New IBM, 1995–2012 495 19. Hard Times, Again, and Another Transformation 535 20. THINK: IBM Today and Its Legacy 566 Author’s Note: In the Spirit of Transparency 602 Bibliographic Essay 605 Index 614 Herman,Hollerith;,punch,cards;,tabulators;,Watson;,business,strategy;,DEHOMAG;,IBM,604;,personal,computer;,IBM,System,360;,corporate,culture;,mainframes;,minicomputers;,antitrust;,PC Herman Hollerith; punch cards; tabulators; Watson; business strategy; DEHOMAG; IBM 604; personal computer; IBM System 360; corporate culture; mainframes; minicomputers; antitrust; PC This Is A History Of Ibm, A Huge Multinational Firm, From Its Origins In The 1880s To The Present. It Demonstrates That This Supplier Of Computers, Software And Information Technology Services Played A Profound Role In Shaping How Other Large Organizations And Economies Evolved In The Twentieth Century. It Describes Its Strategies, Expansions, How Various Parts Of The Company Collaborated And Competed Within The Firm Overcoming Problems, A Nearly Fatal Period In The Early 1990s, And Its Recurring Revivals And Successes. The Book Is Unique For Several Reasons. First, It Is A Comprehensive Volume Covering Technologies, Managerial Actions, Strategies, Sales, The Role Of Customers, And Government Regulatory And Legal Issues. Second, It Is The Only History That Covers The Post 1980 Period Down To 2018. (the Last Major History Of Ibm Was Published In The Early 1990s.) Third, Its Emphasis On The Role Of Corporate And Sales Culture Is Unique Among Books Concerning Ibm. Fourth, This Book Provides The Greatest Amount Of Detail Available Today About Ibm's Role In Western And Eastern Europe. The Book Is Also Unique Because The Author Brings To The Project Several Perspectives: That Of An Employee Close To Much Of The Critical Events Of One-third Of The Company's History, That Of A Trained Historian, And That Of An Experienced Student Of The History Of Computing In Business. Thus, He Is Able To Integrate The Entire History Of The Company From Its Origins To The Present, Demonstrating, For Example, Legacies Of A Prior Era Still Evident In Today's Company, An Ability To Connect Ibm's Behaviors In Each Decade To Those Of Other Large Multinational Corporations, And To The Computing Activities Of Its Many Thousands Of Customers-- From Birth To Identity: Ibm In Its Early Years, 1880s-1945 -- Ibm The Computer Behemoth, 1945-1985 -- A Time Of Crisis, 1985-1994 -- Ibm In The New Century James W. Cortada. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This is a history of IBM, a huge multinational firm, from its origins in the 1880s to the present. It demonstrates that this supplier of computers, software and information technology services played a profound role in shaping how other large organizations and economies evolved in the twentieth century. It describes its strategies, expansions, how various parts of the company collaborated and competed within the firm overcoming problems, a nearly fatal period in the early 1990s, and its recurring revivals and successes. The book is unique for several reasons. First, it is a comprehensive volume covering technologies, managerial actions, strategies, sales, the role of customers, and government regulatory and legal issues. Second, it is the only history that covers the post 1980 period down to 2018. (The last major history of IBM was published in the early 1990s.) Third, its emphasis on the role of corporate and sales culture is unique among books concerning IBM. Fourth, this book provides the greatest amount of detail available today about IBM's role in Western and Eastern Europe. The book is also unique because the author brings to the project several perspectives: that of an employee close to much of the critical events of one-third of the company's history, that of a trained historian, and that of an experienced student of the history of computing in business. Thus, he is able to integrate the entire history of the company from its origins to the present, demonstrating, for example, legacies of a prior era still evident in today's company, an ability to connect IBM's behaviors in each decade to those of other large multinational corporations, and to the computing activities of its many thousands of customers-- Provided by publisher Series Page......Page 2 Title Page......Page 3 Copyright Page......Page 4 Dedication......Page 5 Table of Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 12 I: From Birth to Identity: IBM in Its Early Years, 1880s–1945......Page 25 1. Origins, 1880s–1914......Page 26 2. Thomas J. Watson Sr. and the Creation of IBM, 1914–1924......Page 50 3. The Emergence of IBM and the Culture of THINK......Page 83 4. IBM and the Great Depression......Page 110 5. IBM in World War II, 1939–1945......Page 137 II: IBM the Computer Behemoth, 1945–1985......Page 161 6. IBM Gets into the Computer Business, 1945–1964......Page 162 7. How Customers, IBM, and a New Industry Evolved, 1945–1964......Page 190 8. System 360: One of the Greatest Products in History?......Page 215 9. “The IBM Way”: How It Worked, 1964–1993......Page 243 10. “The IBM Way”: What the World Saw, 1964–1993......Page 266 11. IBM on the Global Stage......Page 290 12. Two Decades of Antitrust Suits, 1960s–1980s......Page 330 13. Communist Computers......Page 357 14. “A Tool for Modern Times”: IBM and the Personal Computer......Page 380 III: A Time of Crisis, 1985–1994......Page 417 15. Storms, Crisis, and Near Death, 1985–1993......Page 418 16. IBM’s Initial Response, 1985–1993......Page 435 17. How IBM Was Rescued, 1993–1994......Page 465 IV: IBM in the New Century......Page 494 18. A New IBM, 1995–2012......Page 495 19. Hard Times, Again, and Another Transformation......Page 535 20. THINK: IBM Today and Its Legacy......Page 566 Author’s Note: In the Spirit of Transparency......Page 602 Bibliographic Essay......Page 605 Index......Page 614