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IBM scores a century, moves on path of 'Think'

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CIOL Bureau
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BANGALORE, INDIA: Computer giant International Business Machines (IBM) is turning hundred today.

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A company that has its roots in an age when computing was not there in anyone's imagination, the 100-year-young 'Big Blue' is celebrating the occasion without much fanfare, and focusing on voluntary activities like social work.

As part of its 'Celebration of Service', designed to allow employees, retirees, clients and business partners to donate their time and expertise during the company's Centennial year, 300,000 IBMers around the world — close to three quarters of its global workforce — are volunteering in more than 5,000 projects in 120 countries, meeting civic and societal challenges and serving millions in need.

Also, since January 2011, IBMers, retirees and their families have donated more than 2.5 million hours of service to communities worldwide, said IBM.

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Building on heritage of skills-based service

“While this represents a historic and record setting amount of service, what is most important is not the large number of employees volunteering nor the millions of hours of service they are providing, it is the high quality of the work that is being done. The impact will go far beyond the one day. We are building on our strong heritage of skills-based service — a commitment that is in IBM's DNA,” said Stanley S. Litow, vice president, Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs, IBM.

Since its founding on June 16, 1911, the company has scaled many mountains and has continued to endeavor in focus on the business needs and opportunities of its customers. Initially the company was formed when three companies that made scales, punch-clocks for work and other machines merged to form the Computing Tabulating Recording Co. It was in 1924 that it was named International Business Machines (IBM).

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Its founder Thomas J. Watson Sr., believed in the slogan "Think" and it still guides the company today.

“Since Watson's day, IBM's breakthroughs and inventions have formed the DNA of the information technology industry. At the same time, IBM also pioneered many dimensions of 20th century business, and enabled many essential systems of the modern world,” IBM said in a statement.

As the company is turning 100, IBM chairman and CEO Samuel J. Palmisano identified the key lesson IBM has learned over 100 years: In order to succeed for the long term, you must manage for the long term.

“For IBMers, long-term thinking means continually moving to the future,” he said. “IBM has survived and thrived for 100 years by remaining true to our core values, while being ready to change everything else. This has allowed us to transform technology, business and society through our first century, and we believe it will enable us to achieve even more in our second.”

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Shankar Annaswamy, managing director, IBM India Private Limited, said, “It has been an exciting journey for IBM in India. Starting with just a small office, we have grown to become a microcosm of the IBM Corporation with presence and leadership across all segments. As we move ahead towards the next century, we will take forward this legacy of innovation and growth and continue to contribute to the economy and society in India.

Also read: IBM at 100 unveils 2015 India roadmap 

Having etched its place in the ethos of the international community as a mega-vendor, IBM has risen to the pinnacle of the IT sector with global visions and strategies targeting the entire world. Despite having suffered several ups and downs in its reserve, the company has pioneered to retain its world-view perspective amidst numerous challenges and competition.

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Of course, IBM has also made significant missteps in the past that negatively impacted its influence and even its survival, observes Ovum.

“We think that one of the biggest dangers for IBM is complacency, but it has a plethora of other challenges including disruption by technology and competition, consumerisation of IT, government regulation pushed in part by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and obsession with financial results that cause it to fail other stakeholders,” it said in a statement.

No doubt, IBM needs to focus on the ‘international’ and ‘business’ parts of its name to face the challenges of the new era. It thrives when it focuses on the business needs and opportunities of its customers, said Ovum.

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Reinvent, pioneer

As part of the centennial celebrations, IBM is focusing on three themes globally: Reinventing the modern corporation, Pioneering the science of information, and making the world work better.

Incidentally, on this occasion, IBM's Watson computer system was honored this week, as the "Person Of The Year" at the 15th Annual Webby Awards gala in New York City. Earlier this year, Watson captured the international spotlight when it competed on the renowned quiz show Jeopardy! and defeated the show's two most successful and celebrated contestants, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter.

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“If Tom Watson Sr. were to visit IBM today, he would hardly recognize what we make or the services we provide — analytics, clouds, the Jeopardy!-winning computer named in his honor, solutions for a smarter planet. But he would very much recognize why IBM is pioneering these spaces–to make the world work better through information and the tools of thinking,” IBM said in an essay published on the occasion.

“If Tom Watson Jr., our second CEO, were to return, he would not recognize the structure or global footprint of IBM. But he’d instantly recognize the IBMer–the women and men who still very much believe that a company can, and must, change everything about itself ...except its beliefs,” added the essay.

And that is IBM is all about, the 'B' stands not just for business, it's for 'belief' too.

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