Book Description

Now in paperback, the book THE WALL STREET JOURNAL called "required reading for anyone itching to know what happened at Big Blue." A behind-the-scenes look at the dramtic fall of IBM. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The single best book for understanding the computer industry
Computer Wars remains the single best book for understanding the computer industry, both software and hardware. When people outside the industry ask why both Netscape and Microsoft have decided to lose a barrel of money by developing WWW browsers and giving them away, give them a copy of this book.

A great book
This is a book book, if you like the subject. The first 1/3 tells the story of the collapse of IBM, and the rest of the book goes into the buissness aspects of what went wrong and what to do in the future. Great if you like either buissness or computers in general.

How the war was lost
This book was in interesting book that went into the details. It clearly explaines the details of how IBM lost the war with the best technology in the world.

Great job of putting the computer industry in perspective.
This book details how the modern computer industry came into being. Who the players were, how they fought for domiance, who won, who lost, and why. The authors cleary delineate the pivotal points that shape today's competitive landscape. For instance when Intel and Microsoft stole the day from IBM.For anyone even casually interested in the computer industry, this is a fasinating and easy read ... Read more

Book Description

Presents a map of the various options one has on the journey through an alliance; the principles of design; new insights into what has been missing in order to understand alliances; how to find the right partners; purchaser-supplier alliances; some of the consequences that occur when certain principles are violated; how to improve the chances of obtaining excellent results from an alliance and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent summary and guide to Business Allinaces
What is an alliance? How are they Competitive Weapons? All this and more are covered in detail. Major questions such as who to ally with and who not to are covered. For the smaller company, beware of the white knight that needs your technology, offers large cash infusions, but on the condition that all loans are due if a single payment is late. Why? Read the book and find out. Subjects covered include when to form an alliance, criteria for allies and how to find them, project planning suggestions, goals and objectives, exit clauses, and other basics. Charts and checklists abound to help gauge chances of success or help ferret out causes of failure. The book is rich in the personal experience of the author in building, and executing successful alliances. Whether reading fast for a general overview, or slow for detailed information the book is well written, with charts, graphs, checklists, and detail of alliances. The Business Alliances Guide should be required reading for anyone contemplating alliances in any form. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Eighty percent of today's desktop computers operate on chips produced by Intel Corporation, which is now a more profitable company than the top 10 PC makers combined. But just how did the company, under CEO Andrew Grove, become so powerful? And what does its position mean to those who depend upon it? By combining public records, private documents,and interviews with more than 100 of those who know the company best, Financial Times columnist Tim Jackson has produced the fascinating, definitive story: Inside Intel: Andy Grove and the Rise of the World's Most Powerful Chip Company. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Expected so much more, but still an ok history of Intel
This book is ok. Good, but I was disappointed. Why? Because I feel it could have been just so much more and rich in history and anecdotes with less dry (and uninteresting) technical background. Intel's the world's largest processor company. Exceptionally dynamic and with high tech, cutting edge resources (people). More important, it's a look into the future. I thought reading this work would provide a privileged insight into this modern day paradigm of manufacturing and management. It was just ok. Good, but for all that we hear of Intel and see of its present day market dominance, I couldn't help but feel that so many pages just didn't do it justice. Bottom line: author Jackson could've provided much more content in the pages he used.

Intels techniques are not always fair but deserve credit
Intel is the epitome of a giant trying to destroy all that comes in its way.The way Andy Grove and his team destroys opposition reminds one that fairplay is not always seen in business.The way Intel has beaten weaker rivals in its game to dominate the microprocessor industry shows that in this game there are no rules. Various victims of Intels strategy tell their story in this book.However Intel has to be congratulated on the ruthless determination of its core team to dominate the market against all odds and use all possible tactics in this context. The decision to quit memory chip market and enter totally into microprocessors is the most important happenning to Intel and Andy Grove should be given the highest honours for virtually saving the company. Andy Groves, man of the year in 1998 is protrayed as an obsessive man,driven by the urge to compete and totally lacking the basic human natures of sympathy,care and fellow feeling. Whether it is an accurate indicator of Andy Grove is anybody's guess.

Excellent book
This book gives an excellent chronologic sequence of beginning and eventual rise of Intel. It is pager turner from the 1st page. Also, gives a very clear visibility to an outsider of how well and menacingly Intel built its empire and business. A great book for anyone interested in knowing the history of Intel and semiconductor sector.

Fair and Balance reporting. Great Motivational stories!
unlike most books on corporate america or stories about how exceptional american, against all odds, achieved exceptional things, this book did not do the typical left wing liberal spin to curse corporate america or give the same old same old "capitalism is evil" speech. the narratives detailed how a group of americans, in particular Noyce, Moore and Grove, took risk and boldly "go out and do something" (to quote Noyce) which eventually created wealth for himself/herself, for the employees and for many many people around the world (intel's employees and investors locate all over the world). these are people who in Anthony Robbins' definition as people who made positive difference in a lot of peoples' life. great book, extremely motivating. five star.

The Birth Of A Processor Manifests The End Of The USSR
Very nice book about the US semiconductor industry. It gives us a rare look into the world of corporate America. Very interesting, well-written, and non-technical. Anyone with an interest in the entrepreneurship and computer industry would enjoy this book. This book provides many interesting and some uninteresting details about Intel's history.

This book can give an authentic taste both of the history of ingenuity and energy inside Intel. Mr. Jackson did a wonderful job! But there's a little too much on Intel's battles with AMD and not enough on its unique relationship with Microsoft.

May be you never believe it, that such a small silicon thing as Intel's microprocessor was a one of the main media to manifest the impotence of the communist regime in the USSR. In fact, I'm sure this technology turned out more dangerous for the Soviet Union than Reagan's Star Wars. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Half is really interesting, half is oddly personal
I've enjoyed reading most of this book and have taken a lot of interesting lessons away with me. The first 150 pages are especially good at illustrating how the company favored technical intelligence over business acumen and why some of the decisions made have paid off so well. This type of information readily applies to any work being done today and I would highly recommend it.

What I found odd was the amount of personal opinion included in the book rather than making this a more objective look at Microsoft. I'm not a Microsoft basher by any means - I use the products every day, program in VB, Microsoft's proprietary language, and genuinely like many of their products. I was just surprised to see the author include many personal opinions, blatantly claiming unfairness towards Microsoft when the context of the discussion already showed his point.

This personalization led me to reduce 4 stars to three. After a while it's just distracting and I had an urge to yell "Shut up and tell the story!" The story is very interesting, and I do recommend reading it. Just don't be surprised if you want to tell the author to shut up once in a while.

As promised, the reason Microsoft is successful.
Although the book has certain flaws, I heartily recommend it because the author defends Microsoft on the basis of its virtues: that Mr. Gates hires intelligent individuals and employs them for their rational capacity to create. Part one, titled "Microsoft Basics," is in three sections: "Sitting and Thinking," "Smarts," and "The Model in Their Head," where Mr. Stross argues that Microsoft is founded on "old logic skills," which is the reason he names for Microsoft's dominance in the marketplace. The author ties the attacks against Microsoft to an anti-intellectual mentality in America and he demonstrates that the attacks are ridiculous because they are baseless. Mr. Stross indicates that Mr. Gates and Microsoft are hugely successful because they reject this disdain for rationality and use their smarts as the key to their success. For these reasons the book is worth reading. The flaws in the book bare their ugly head whenever the author strays from his own field, which is history, into economic analysis--Mr. Stross' economics are thoroughly socialist. Fortunately, he mostly stays on topic in the main part of the book, but the afterword "Legacies" contains nearly every major fallacy of economics spouted by the collectivists. The author believes that good products, if they are too good, are bad products: "For example, the technological success of radial tires had become a business disaster because radials lasted so long that customers purchased replacements much less frequently" and that what Henry Ford did "was establish the principle that workers should be paid high wages because mass production requires mass consumption--the two cannot be separated. ... For all to prosper, other employers also had to let go of the notion of paying their own workers the bare minimum." In the end, he concludes that "even a fair-playing winner may need to be restrained [by anti-trust legislation]--and ultimately Microsoft may indeed turn out to be precisely such a winner" and so, he calls on Mr. Gates to "help persuade others to adopt a course that would improve the lives of others in ways that could never be achieved by even the wisest disposal of his own personal wealth." If it was not for his principled defense of Microsoft on rational grounds, I would ignore this book. But as it stands, if you will pass by his economic comments and skip the afterwards completely, then you will be treated to a clear picture of Microsoft and why it should be admired for its success.

Instructive book
Stross' book goes beyond explaining the ways of Microsoft to man, but explains what it takes to stay up-to-date. As is oft said, the leader of one revolution can not be the leader of another. Because Stross have had a total archival access that's why the reasons why Microsoft company is in the high stakes high technology business are very clear.
Tongue and cheek aside, this book is a real way of thinking in a company. Bill Gates is not the ruthless taskmaster that some people try to denonciate.

Good insight into Microsoft's early days.
I purchased this book when it was first published, but went back and reread it recently. The book is broken down into four sections, the first being my favorite. As an entrepreneur I find the initial organization, growth, and recruiting patterns at Microsoft to be extremely valuable. I think that any company can learn from this section, especially companies with investments in intellectual capital.

The rest of the book is pretty good, but not as valuable as the first section was to me. It did have interesting discussions about Microsoft's early entry into the Personal Finance market going head to head against Intuit. This should have helped dispel many of the anti-trust issues as it shows that Microsoft is not alone in aggressively marketing their products.

Balanced and well-researched
I found this to be a very well-researched book. Stross provides details for all his points and conclusions. This is not a book by someone can can see no good in MSFT, nor by someone who can see no bad in MSFT.

An excellent book if one wants to understand what makes a great software firm. ... Read more

Book Description

Written in a clear and straightforward manner, Rethinking the Fifth Discipline makes significant and fundamental improvements to the core discipline of systemic thinking. It establishes crucial developments in the context of the learning organization, including creativity and organizational transformation.Key features include a review and critique of "Fifth Discipline" and systemic thinking, an introduction to the gurus (Senge, Bertalanffy, Beer, Ackoff, Checkland, and Churchman), a redefinition of management, a guide to choosing, implementing, and evaluating improvement strategies, and practical illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A challenging, thought provoking book!
This book will provide you value if you're looking for information and analysis of system thinking, and wish to better understand Dr. Senge's seminal book "The Fifth Disciple". However, just as an historical introspective over the last 60 years, it's worth the price of the book alone.

Mr. Flood examines the Fifth Discipline under the careful eye of an academic researcher, bringing into play some of great system thinkers of the past to make his points regarding Senge's five disciplines. As these great thinkers are brought forth, windows of opportunities for new knowledge open up, as do gaps of unspoken positions in Senge's work.

I enjoyed this book very much, probably because it was so unique and carefully laid out. After all, how often to you see a book which is basically a term paper of another book, written by the best professor at the school?

I came away with not only a better understading and appreciation of the Fifth Discipline, but also with a clearer understanding of the history of system thinkers, and how they've each brought us a unique perspective to consider.

Systems Thinking beyond Senge
A nice one for the academics. I don't think busy managers would like it. Nevertheless, Flood provides a neat summary and background to all issues involving systems and systems thinking in general. His view that complexity science is a strand of systems theory and not something entirely new is important, especially for those contemplating a new management program based on complexity theory. Flood makes a number of interesting observations and provides some useful suggestions, though some may not be candidates for immediate implementation they do get one thinking. His practical animation of his experience and research at the local police in York in the UK is boring. The essence of systemic thinking as Flood points out is not something that can be easily explained, the notion of wholeness should not be trivialised. To attempt to explain the world in terms of systems and sub-systems does to systemic thinking what analysis does to SATORI - it strips it of all essential meaning. In this sense Flood goes beyond Senge, and I liked it very much.

A funeral parlor read -- the patient has died.
20000531: I have to warn people away from this book, or at least suggest that it be read at a page-a-second clip. What's wrong with it? It's simply analysis that is so process conscious that all it's good for, after painful mastery, in my opinion, is to critique events or "systems" after the fact-if ever! I can see all the fresh bureaucrats now, gathered around their impressive conference tables, watching with barely flinching expressions as bespecktacled "Floodites" make the case for "A" using analyses "A - Z" and sub-positories (sic) "a - z" using an endless succession of highly intelligent flowing diagrams -- a virtual "flood" of absolutely stunning (literally) and pointless DATA, that is intended to let you, eventually, "wall-off," and decide what to "embrase," and group hug the "97 architypes." Perhaps this all sounds good in the quarterly. Flood can't be too sure because there's a lot more stuff by author's "a - Z," and that's just for 1994. But relax -- it's all about "systemic thinking." "Systemic thinking is at the core." So it's -- "systemic." I hate to trash a good man but I would prefer a massage and a tape of wooded sounds. Actually what the professor is describing is what a consciously balanced human brain is supposed to be able to deliver, but with a bit more vigor. I think the professor needs a few magic stones and a trip to Greece. Can anyone _really_ make sense of this erudition? (from title page of part 1): "Knowing oneself following a system of thought, will simply create a result, i.e., oneself, produced by that system of thought -- not knowing oneself." And those bureaucrats? What's in their fresh (collective) mind is a basic _fear_ that holds them tight to the professor and creates lions out of lambs: "Defend the professor with your _life_, because if he's wrong, then that means all of academic structure crumbles." That's what I thought I could hear them thinking as I was watching them. I tear down the work that Mr. Flood and his pedegree erect, to make room for systems that work at least a thousand times better. It pains me to knock anyone's success but with all sobriety I say that as a class, habitually unchallenged professionals like this are more problem than solution.

Original, profound yet easily understood and operationalised
The content of Professor Flood's latest book is original and profound, but easily understood and operationalised, therefore this book can be considered a "must have" by academics, students, interventionists, consultants and managers alike. It successfully elucidates how the concepts of Systems Theory, Complexity Theory, Organisational Learning and Organisational Intervention are inextricably intertwined.

There is a significant degree of emergent synergy that arises from the complementarist use of the Senge's approach (as described within the "Fifth Discipline") when used in conjunction with Flood's guiding> frameworks for organisational intervention and improvement. In isolation, Senge provided his readers with guidance on organisational learning - but provided no pragmatic steps to guide organisational analysis and the actual selection and use of improvement strategies. Conversely, Flood's previous writings provided a guiding framework for facilitating organisational improvement but lacked the organisational learning approaches that are simultaneously required if the need for organisational improvement (i.e. change) is to be recognised, validated, operationalised, reflexively critiqued and assimilated as part of a revised organisational paradigm. Empirical studies have clearly demonstrated that without the tools to facilitate organisational learning, it is quite likely that the need and desire to implement change strategies will be attenuated by organisational defence mechanisms. (See the work of Argyris in this regard). Therefore, the augmentation of organisational improvement frameworks with organisational learning offers interventionists an enhanced degree of success.

Thus, by effectively combining his interventional strategies with the Senge's organisational learning strategies, Flood has successfully created a pragmatic approach that is more potent than the sum of its constituent parts. The emergent synergy is not by any means a coincidental by-product of the amalgam. Flood clearly explains how the inescapable and tangible manifestations of Complexity Theory require us to "learn our way into an unknowable future". Flood's book also effectively prepares the reader for the adaptations that will be necessary in contending with a dynamically changing organisational landscape.

This book is highly recommended to all those with an interest in organisational learning, change management, systems theory and complexity theory. ... Read more

Book Description

Why do some firms perform better than others? What enables a firm to grow and take advantage of its opportunities?

Currently much discussion of these questions pivots around the ideas of competencies and capabilities, and the concept of the learning organization or knowledge-creating company. The Theory of the Growth of the Firm is a rich and pioneering work that addresses these questions and laid the foundation for this approach often referred to as the "resource based view of the firm." Edith Penrose analyzes managerial activities and decisions, organizational routines, and knowledge creation within the company and argues that they are critical to the ability of a firm to grow. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A richly rewarding read
I find myself springing to the defense of this book, because when I read it - right through - it was with a sense of appreciation for its acumen. Penrose's terminology is a little idiosyncratic but it does not take long for the reader to adjust. Moreover, when reading it with the circumstances of actual companies in mind, it presents a way to gain insight into their histories. One other way to express this is that my notes on this book are very detailed and lengthy. I didn't make these notes simply because the book is a "classic".

Analytical value lost in muddled communication
The usefulness of any book is based not only on the content of ideas presented, but also in the way those ideas are communicated. Unfortunately, this book is lacking in clarity and succinctness. An example will best illustrate my concern. In discussing criteria for defining firms, the author states, "I doubt whether any rules could be laid down for the application of the criteria which would obviate the necessity of judgement in individual cases, with the consequent differences of opinion." Perhaps she means, "I doubt whether rules can be applied that would allow individual cases to be judged without giving rise to differences of opinion." Or perhaps she means that "judgement of individual cases requires criteria that are not easily agreed upon, thus preventing the development of generalizable rules." Or perhaps, "Firms vary considerably in their form and structure, making the development of universal rules impossible." Either way, the reader must interpret what the author really means.

The above example is by no means an isolated one. Even the most astute reader will find himself rereading entire passages in an effort to understand the meaning. With thousands of business and economics texts addressing issues of strategy, organizational structure, and firm behavior, one simply does not have the time to struggle through poorly worded theory.

Ground-Breaking and Fascinating
This book helped provide the foundation for what has become known as the resource-based view of the firm (RBV). Back in 1959, when the male gender dominated the economics discipline, Ms. Penrose set out to answer this question: Was there "something inherent in the very nature of any firm that both promoted its growth and necessarily limited its RATE of growth."

I found this book so interesting and helpful (I am a business appraiser) that I read it twice. This led me into studying the resource-based view of the firm.

I recommend this book for anyone interested in the broad topics of business strategy and management. Related books that I recommend include "Contemporary Strategy Analysis," by Robert Grant; "Modern Competitive Analysis, by Sharon Oster; and "Why Firms Succeed," by John Kay. ... Read more

Book Description

Written by the first woman director of the Gillette Company, this is an exciting first-hand account of Gillette's successful fight against four hostile takeover efforts during the late 1980s. After a brief, insightful history of the company and the growth of its world-famous products--Gillette razors and blades; Braun coffee machines and electric razors; Oral-B toothbrushes; Paper Mate, Waterman, and Parker pens; and cosmetics--the author tells the inside story of Ronald Perelman's three attempts and the Coniston Partners' one attempt to take over Gillette. Ricardo-Campbell, who chaired Gillette's Finance Committee during this period, provides a fascinating look at the ensuing proxy battles and other intricate financial maneuvers. Combining academic theory and first-hand experience in its discussion of topics such as greenmail and poison pills, this work also features such world-renowned corporate figures as Warren Buffett, Joe Flom, and Eric Gleacher. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

worth reading
I believe Resisting Hostile Takeovers is worth reading though I don't completely agree with Ms.Ricardo-Campbell's writing style. This book discusses two events Gillette had experiened through 1986 and 1988: hostile hakeover attempt and proxy battle. The author, as economist, very concisely details the major issues arising in the takeover battle such as business decision rule, antigreenmail, proxy battle, anti-takeover legislation etc. Caution is required, however, since this book is written from a board member's viewpoint and there are relatively not much about how managements and other legal and financial advisors reacted to the threats.

an excellent , detailed account
This excellent thesis has great credibility because it was written by someone who was actually in the game and not on the sidelines looking in. The detail is such that it could also serve as a text on the subject of takeovers. This book serves as a testament that even the some of the best managers(Gillette) should and will be constantly challenged ( if need be by outsiders like Perelman, etc) to increase shareholder value.

Taking the outsider in
Well, perhaps not many students find takeover sories interesting. Perhaps,... But for an insight into real business problems, the Gillettte story is one of the very best. It shows that women may be better managers (even in a razor company), provides a fresh written perspective, and should be considered as a wounderful learing example for further geneations. ... Read more

Amazon.com

How has Microsoft been able to crush its competition every step of the way? The company's own version of history ascribes it to something like "really great technical innovation." Barbarians Led by Bill Gates presents a harsher and messier history, sharply questioning Microsoft's ethics and corporate wisdom while underscoring its fierce will to compete.

The authors present a history of Microsoft from the early '80s to the present, covering the big projects, both successes and failures, that defined the company's direction. It's a difficult story to tell, filled with complex technology and a large cast of characters who are rarely in the public eye.

Perhaps the most surprising thing to emerge is how many Microsoft ventures were mismanaged and how many opportunities were missed. The best-known of these is Microsoft's near-catastrophic failure to see the arrival and success of the Internet. The book also details the unplanned success of Windows 3.0, the demise of Pen Windows (which annihilated GO Corp. and its promising Penpoint operating system but little else), and the compromised design and slow success of Windows 95. A final chapter tackles the Netscape-Microsoft Web-browser war and Microsoft's head-on collision with the Justice Department.

Both authors are, in different ways, Microsoft insiders. Jennifer Edstrom is the daughter of Pam Edstrom, Gates's long-time PR chief and spin doctor. Marlin Eller is a 13-year veteran Microsoft developer who has worked on DOS, early versions of Windows, and pen computing. Both stand open to the charge of having an ax to grind, and the reader senses a lot of personal animosity at work. Yet anyone who has followed Microsoft for any length of time will recognize most of the war stories from other sources, and most of the new information presented has the ring, at least, of probability. Indeed, the value of this book is not so much in presenting new information as in marshaling it to paint a portrait of a company that has largely escaped this sort of scrutiny. --Thomas Mace ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Disjointed but informative
Its a good thing that Marlin Eller made millions at Microsoft, because he certainly couldn't make a living as a writer. Fortunately, what the book lacks in writing style, it more than makes up with informative content. The inside stories on Gates, Ballmer, and Myhrvold are worth the price of the book alone. If we are to believe the authors, then Gates is a detached, profane, bully, Ballmer is a cheerleader turned cult leader, and Myhrvold has no grasp of reality. I especially liked the anecdote about how Dave Weise single-handedly snatched Microsoft from the jaws of obscurity by reviving Windows 3.0. At the end of the book I was left wondering whether Eller was bashing Microsoft because he was an innocent witness, a disgruntled employee, or protecting the value of his Microsoft stock options (which are threatened by the DoJ).

Excellent Attack On MS From An Insider
An insider's account of the development of windows and related events, Barbarians is excellent reading. It explodes the right wing fetish about the genius of Bill Gates, and nullifies the equally baseless conservative notion that huge bureaucratic enterprises are efficient, as long as they are private. It is also quite revealing of the dangers of allowing the monopolistic practices of any business to remain unchallenged. The thuggish tactics of Microsoft, from it's days as a IBM toady to it's genesis as Corporate bully number one, coupled with the mindless greed, the idea theft and the thick headed stupidity of the Microsoft upper management reveal the true nature of the corporate capitalist state. Worse for Chairman Bill, the book cannot be dismissed as the sour grapes ranting of unhappy competitors since Eller made millions as a Microsoft software developer and Edstrom is the daughter of one of MS' chief PR goons. Barbarians should be read by fans and foes of Microsoft alike, if for no other reason than to witness the alienation and frustration of all corporate employees, even those that are millionaires. Death to the corporate state.

Barberians Led by Bill Gates
I feel sorry for author. Dennis Welt BC Canada

Barbarians Led by Bill Gates
The book was a well written account, some other titles which may be of interest are; 'hackers' by Steven Levy, 'Fire in the Valley: The making of the Personal Computer', 'Pirates of Silicon Valley' (movie). Reading/viewing these titles before 'Barbarians Led by Bill Gates' will provide a good chronology.

Worth reading
Although it may not be as in-depth as some other readers may expect, it does paint a vivid picture of what is going on in MS. In fact, it is very creditible. I am a programmer on Window platform and have witnessed their lack of direction. Bill has strong influence over the market. That's. Anyone given billions of dollar can roll out beautiful software. This book let's me see through form another side of the window. ... Read more

Book Description

Elihu Thomson was a major American inventor of electric light and power systems.A contemporary of Thomas Edison, Thomson performed the engineering and design work necessary to make electric lighting a common product.From the 1880s to the 1930s, Thomson was employed by the General Electric Company and its predecessors.Working within the corporation, Thomson reveals how successful inventions are based on explicit links among technological artifacts, marketing strategy, and the business organization needed for manufacturing and marketing. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Loved it...
This book has a short history of the original Standard Oil, and more extensive histories of each of the "baby Standards" since the breakup. Here, for the curious, is the history of who bought whom, who merged with whom, and what brands they used over the years.

Best of all are the photos of old gas stations, signs, road maps, and collectables. I think this book is more aimed at nostalgia buffs and antique collectors than at somebody with an academic or business interest in the history of Standard Oil. Still, for the latter it would be a good introduction.

It covers the history of the "baby Standards" from the 1911 breakup up until about 1996, which means it is already out of date. Since 1996, Exxon (Standard of New Jersey) has merged with Mobil (Standard of New York), Chevron (Standard of California) has merged with Texaco, Conoco (the Rocky Mountain branch of Standard) has merged with Phillips, and BP has aquired Amoco (Standard of Indiana), Sohio (Standard of Ohio), and Arco (Standard's old Atlantic Refining). It seems the history of Standard Oil has yet to be fully written, almost 100 years after the breakup.

All in all, a fun book. As a child, I always wondered on family trips why the Chevron stations would be branded Standard in some states, the Amocos branded Standard in others, why Sohio would be Sohio in one state and Boron in another, and why Esso would use the Enco brand in some states. Now, I know.

Standard Oil
This book was quite good. I read it oily ... Read more

Book Description

The Bacardi rum company is one of the most successful and recognizable brands in the world. It spends millions on marketing itself as the spirit of youth and vitality. But behind its image as a party drink lies a very different story.

In this book, investigative journalist Hernando Calvo Ospina brings to light the commercial and political activities of the Bacardi empire to reveal its role in fostering the 40-year long confrontation between the United States and the revolutionary government of Cuba. Through meticulous research, Calvo Ospina reveals how directors and shareholders of the family-owned firm have aggressively worked to undermine the Castro government. He explores how they have been implicated in supporting paramilitary organizations that have carried out terrorists attacks, and reveals their links to the extreme right-wing Cuban-American Foundation that supported Ronald Regan's Contra war in Nicaragua.

"Bacardi: The Hidden War" explains the company's hand in promoting "special interest" legislation against its competitor, Havana Club Rum, which is manufactured in Cuba and promoted by the European company Pernod-Ricard. Calvo Ospina reveals the implications of Bacardi's involvement in this growing dispute that threatens to create a trade war between America and Europe. Exploring the Bacardi empire's links to the CIA, as well as its inside links with the Bush administration, this fascinating and readable account shows how multinational companies act for political as well as economic interests.

"Bacardi: The Hidden War" was first published in Spanish and has been translated into French, Dutch, German and Italian. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

What about Bacardi's anti-Batista /pro-Castro history?
The Bacardis along with other elite Cuban families bankrolled Castro's rebel forces for years, and in the case of Bacardi provided sponsored a visit for Washington officials to demonstrate Fidel Castro's democratic credentials in 1957.

Why isn't that dark chapter mentioned in this so-called tell all book. The Bacardis have a consistent history of being anti-dictator both in the case of Batista and of Castro. I wonder how the author could leave out their support of a violent, thuggish, ex-patriate who wandered around Miami raising funds for waging unconventional warfare against Cuban nationals. But in that case the expatriate (or exile if you prefer) was Fidel Castro, and the tyrant was Fulgencio Batista.

"In the spring of 1957 Washington had sent an official fact-finding mission to the island to learn more about the rebel leader. ... The American delegation found that the rebels had appealed to a desire in many Cubans, from all classes, who were tired of the Cuban dictatorship. The tour itself had been sponsored by the owner of Bacardi rum as a way of easing American anxieties about the Castros."

From "ONE HELL OF A GAMBLE" KHRUSHCHEV, CASTRO, AND KENNEDY, 1958-1964 by Aleksandr Fursenko and Timothy Naftali

Hmmmmm....I wonder how they could miss something this big? Half truths?

Entering a murky world
This book explores the murky world of the Bacardi Empire. Bacardi has had dealings with the CIA and the extreme right-wing National Cuban-American Foundation (CANF) as well as links with both political and violent attempts to overthrow the Cuban government. This began almost from the Revolution in January 1959 and has continued to the present day. As the prologue puts it, the book: "raises fundamental issues about the relationship between multinational corporations and imperialist politics, about the instrumental use by the state of private corporations to serve state-directed terrorism."

Bacardi has sought to use US laws to put a stranglehold on Cuban trade. This includes sponsoring the Helms-Burton Act that tightens the 40-year blockade. The author comments that "the text is so severe and over-arching that doubtless not even the laws and treaties imposed on African colonies by the European powers have contained such a degree of arrogance and lack of respect for a sovereign nation."

Bacardi lawyers were also heavily involved in writing the new trade laws that mean Cuban brands are no longer recognized in the US. Havana Club rum's French partner Pernod-Ricard (the major competitor to Bacardi) has convinced the European Union that such moves are an infringement of fair-trading laws.

Bacardi and others are aiming not just to remove Castro from power but establish Cuba as a colony of the US with chosen front men running the place. ... Read more

Book Description

Toyota's spectacular performance in the competitive and mature auto industry has been attributed to many factors. This research suggests that although all these measures contributed to the outstanding performances of Toyota over the decades, the real driver of Toyota's decisions and actions is Toyota's purpose. ... Read more

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Book Description

America's fastest-growing cutting-edge companies-- high-technology businesses--have been celebrated and popularized but not well understood. This comprehensive examination of high-technology businesses explores over 100 high-technology ventures and another 200 high-technology firms to discover what work is done, who does it, how it is done, and the business performance results of these activities.

Starting with commonly-used definitions of technology-based business, authors Eric Bolland and Charles W. Hofer establish the scope of science- and engineering-based firms. They trace the history of high technology to World War II defense research, and show that the term "high technology" is itself much more recent. In-depth on-site visits to several high-technology firms, including industrial giant Hewlett Packard, reveal the inner workings of these companies. Interviews with key venture capitalists show how they help launch firms, continue capitalizing them, and decide which companies to support. Bolland and Hofer examine how issues such as size, location, local governments, and available resources affect these firms.

High-technology companies are truly "future firms" leading the way to innovation for all businesses. This book shows how that happens. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A truly unique and professional work...
I had been looking for a book like this for quite a while...
This book is not for everyone.
It is a well written work that helps to understand the concept of High-Technology...
(if you think you have a good understanding... read it, you may be surprised)
An extensive analysis on the concepts, people and companies that make it happen.
Essential if you need to PROPERLY understand the concept of a High-technology company.
A must if you're into the High-Tech market, and are dead serious about it.

It's a big book... worth every page.

A Pathway for Professional Growth
This is a great book for the millions of Americans and international professionals whose jobs and professional growth rely on the survival and growth of technology-intensive firms.

Eric Boland and Charles Hofer have made a significant contribution by addressing many paradoxes related to "high technology" firms.Unfortunately, the popular media has done a disservice by using the term `technology' and `information technology' interchangeably.Particularly noteworthy, therefore, is that these authors, bringing complimentary skills, give many lucid examples of technology-intensive firms that are not directly related to the computer or information technology.

Eric Boland helps us with his insight into the inner workings of high-tech firms, and Charles Hofer has added his life-long pioneering of strategic and techno-entrepreneurial perspectives.The two have also successfully bridged the chasm between the academic researchers in technology and innovation management, and the practitioner managers facing the day-to-day fire-fighting in their fast changing and increasingly globalizing high-tech firms. ... Read more

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Amazon.com

Steven F. Walker and Jeffrey W. Marr contend that now, more than ever, a company's relationship with its customers, employees, suppliers, investors, and neighbors determine whether it's a sterling, long-term success or an insignificant flash in the pan. In Stakeholder Power, they make a strong case for developing rapport among these groups and offer a practical model for aligning your business with their needs. Walker and Marr, president and vice president, respectively, of a 60-year-old company that specializes in the interaction of these constituencies, draw on the best practices they've encountered to help others "simultaneously improve their business performance, their business practices, and the quality of some important people's lives." Using examples ranging from Cisco Systems to LensCrafters, they explain the stakeholder concept; discuss building commitment and loyalty through development of ethical core values and practices; investigate what are generally considered the two most important groups (customers and employees) as well as those further from the "immediate family" (community leaders, the media, and government); look at further increasing corporate generosity through charitable giving and employee volunteerism; and explore how it all fits together. Take heed now, Walker and Marr caution, because the way you relate to these groups will likely determine your corporate future. --Howard Rothman ... Read more