A 10-year alliance fades as I.B.M. tackles Microsoft

Article Abstract:

IBM begins competing with its former partner, Microsoft Corp, with an aggressive marketing campaign for its own version of Microsoft's OS/2 3.0 operating system. The company declares that the new OS/2 will have all the capabilities of the Microsoft Windows graphical user interface plus the ability to multitask or run several DOS programs simultaneously. Further, IBM's OS/2 will be available by the end of 1991, one year before Microsoft ships OS/2 3.0. Microsoft incited the ire of IBM by marketing its Windows 3.0 graphical user interface at the expense of developing OS/2. IBM will have to convince users that its new version of OS/2 is worth getting the expense of more powerful hardware. It will also need to convince vendors to endorse the product and develop applications for it.

Prepackaged software, Computer software industry, Software industry, Microsoft Corp., Operating systems (Software), Marketing, Operating systems, MSFT, Operating System, Competition, Marketing Strategy, OS/2, OS/2 (Operating system), Microsoft Windows 3.0 (GUI), OS/2 Warp (Operating system)

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Chief reads riot act to I.B.M.; managers are told to stop excuses in a hard-hitting talk

Article Abstract:

IBM Chmn John F. Akers speaks harshly with his managers, saying 'too many people are standing around the water cooler waiting to be told what to do.' Divisions, he says, have not grown with the market in the first quarter; progress in restructuring business activities is unsatisfactory. Managers, he adds, should stop offering excuses. Sales reps, says Akers, are having coffee with customers and calling it a 'call.' Everyone is too comfortable. The tension level is low. Notes from Akers's talk are distributed throughout IBM, touching off an extensive internal discussion on the company's computer conferencing system.

Electronic computers, Office machines, not elsewhere classified, Management, Computer industry, Beliefs, opinions and attitudes, Management Style, Employee Relations, Organization Structure, Akers, John

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