Inside IBM's Historic Turnaround - Part 1 (1885 ? 1970)
In the history of modern business, many companies have gone from being industry leaders to the verge of extinction. Through the valiant efforts of management teams, some of those companies have succeeded in resuscitating themselves and living on in the shadow of their former stature. Only one company has been at the pinnacle of an industry, fallen to near collapse, and then, beyond anyone's expectations, returned to set the agenda. That company is IBM.
IBM is one of the oldest and largest companies in America and has gone through incredible changes since the very first patent was issued to Julius Pitrap, for a computing scale in 1885. IBM was incorporated in the state of New York on June 15, 1911 as the Computing- Tabulating- Recording Company (C-T-R).
In 1914, when the diversified businesses of C-T-R proved difficult to manage, Thomas J. Watson, Sr. Watson, joined the company as general manager. This is also the same year that IBM hired its first disabled employees, 76 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Watson implemented a series of effective business tactics: generous sales incentives, a focus on customer service, an insistence on well-groomed, dark-suited salesmen and an evangelical fervor for instilling company pride and loyalty in every worker.
Watson boosted company spirit with employee sports teams, family outings and a company band. He preached a positive outlook, and his favorite slogan, "THINK," became a mantra for C-T-R's employees. Within 11 months of joining C-T-R, Watson became its president. The company focused on providing large-scale, custom-built tabulating solutions for businesses, leaving the market for small office prod ...