Waking Up IBM: How A Gang of Unlikely Rebels Transformed Big Blue

A group of unlikely rebels at IBM, led by Patrick McGovern, transformed the struggling company by developing the internet within IBM. McGovern assembled a small team to create an internal website for IBM and demonstrate the power of the internet. Despite skepticism from IBM executives, McGovern's vision helped IBM recognize the importance of the internet and position itself for the emerging digital age.

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Waking Up IBM: How A Gang of Unlikely Rebels Transformed Big Blue

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Waking Up IBM

How a Gang of Unlikely Rebels Transformed Big Blue

2010年6月20日星期日
Besieged Box Market
Problems:
By the ends of 1994,

1. The cumulative losses racket up 15 billion over previous three years.

2. Market cap reduced from $ 105 billion to $ 42 billion

3. IBM lagged behind every computer trends.

2010年6月20日星期日
Missing an Olympic opportunity

• Sun Microsystems took IBM’s raw data which made

Grossman feel unhappy.

A Virtual Team Takes Shape

The Meeting of Two Different Kinds of Capable Person
First demo had been presented by Grossman himself to the officers of IBM
in their HQ in NY.
It attracted Patrick’s attention and they happened to have the same
vision.’
With Patrick doing business translation for Grossman and Grossman doing
the technology translation for
Patrick they became perfect partner.
In order to get senior level attention within IBM, Patrick (very powerful
man) became his mentor and his
go-between with David Singer.
It started as a small team.
Prepare a revolution under the table, then published a manifesto named
“Get Connected”.
Canavino and His Advice

2010年6月20日星期日
Where’s the Buy Button? (part-1)

• On an important meeting, Patrick and his team showed their

demo to IBM’s top brass.

Words to IBM’s old-timers remained skeptical.

“A lot of people were saying how do you make money at this? In fact I have
no ideas. All I know is that

this is the most powerful, important form of communication both inside and

outside the company that

has ever existed.”

Patrick predicted the IT age; he realized the power of information.

It’s show time.

2010年6月20日星期日
Where’s the Buy Button? (part-2)

He has confidence in his team and himself. (Page 9, below)

Throwing Hand GrenadesHe seeded the Internet benefits across the entire
company.

He emphasized small is sooooo good for a group.

Summer Olympic and cheese match, DEEP BLUE.

2010年6月20日星期日
Where’s the Buy Button? (part-2)

He has confidence in his team and himself. (Page 9, below)

Throwing Hand GrenadesHe seeded the Internet benefits across the entire
company.

He emphasized small is sooooo good for a group.

Summer Olympic and cheese match, DEEP BLUE.

2010年6月20日星期日
X-team Structure

• Scouting

Has an ear of IBM’s top level managers to help him get

information.

Patrick team set up an internet lab.

• Expandable Tiers

Borrow people from other departments by using internet in the

company.