Chapter 1 AT&T Chapter 2 IBM
Both AT&T and IBM can be said to have dominated their eras, but the end results are very different.
Let’s take a look at AT&T. Before the Internet era, it monopolized the communication business and owned a powerful R&D institution Bell Labs. In the early stage, its expansion was slow, but its vitality was tenacious. Although it had received many anti-monopoly sanctions, it did not hurt its bones. But after missing two great development opportunities - the network revolution and wireless communications, and led by a group of short-sighted and greedy leadership, it went into decline.
IBM, on the other hand, has successfully transformed itself in previous technological revolutions. It is constantly developing and developing in technology to lead and follow the trend of technology. As a business operator, it sticks to its core business and is very cautious about entering new markets.
In terms of R&D capabilities, both companies are very strong in R&D capabilities, and AT&T's R&D capabilities are much stronger than IBM's. AT&T's research and development is very broad and involves many fields, while IBM focuses on research in the field of computers.
From the perspective of leadership, after AT&T received capital injection, AT&T presidents did not really own the company. The leadership focused on short-term interests and split the company greedily and short-sightedly. IBM made the opposite decision at the same time - bringing back the spun-off companies.
From the perspective of demand, before the advent of the Internet era, the two companies dominated the game with many consumers, but after the advent of the Internet era, people's needs have been aggregated and spread, and the needs have changed. Survived according to needs.
Perhaps this demand is the wave.