Who Says Elephants Can't Dance: Inside IBM's Historic Turnaround (Thorndike Press Large Print Core Series) - Hardcover

Gerstner, Louis V.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786252553 ISBN 13: 9780786252558

Publisher: Thorndike Pr, 2003

Synopsis

In 1990, IBM had its most profitable year ever. By 1993, the computer industry had changed so rapidly the company was on its way to losing $16 billion and IBM was on a watch list for extinction -- victimized by its own lumbering size, an insular corporate culture, and the PC era IBM had itself helped invent.Then Lou Gerstner was brought in to run IBM. Almost everyone watching the rapid demise of this American icon presumed Gerstner had joined IBM to preside over its continued dissolution into a confederation of autonomous business units. This strategy, well underway when he arrived, would have effectively eliminated the corporation that had invented many of the industry's most important technologies.Instead, Gerstner took hold of the company and demanded the managers work together to re-establish IBM's mission as a customer-focused provider of computing solutions. Moving ahead of his critics, Gerstner made the hold decision to keep the company together, slash prices on his core product to keep the company competitive, and almost defiantly announced, "The last thing IBM needs right now is a vision."Who Says Elephants Can't Dance? tells the story of IBM's competitive and cultural transformation. In his own words, Gerstner offers a blow-by-blow account of his arrival at the company and his campaign to rebuild the leadership team and give the workforce a renewed sense of purpose. In the process, Gerstner defined a strategy for the computing giant and remade the ossified culture bred by the company's own success.The first-hand story of an extraordinary turnaround, a unique case study in managing a crisis, and a thoughtful reflection on the computer industry and the principles of leadership, Who Says Elephants Can't Dance? sums up Lou Gerstner's historic business achievement. Taking readers deep into the world of IBM's CEO, Gerstner recounts the high-level meetings and explains the pressure-filled, no-turning-back decisions that had to be made. He also offers his hard-won

About this title

Review:

"The best business book I've ever read." -- Imus in the Morning

"[Gerstner] entertains as he educates." -- New York Times Book Review

"[Gerstner] entertains as he educates."--New York Times Book Review

"The best business book I've ever read."--Imus in the Morning

"[Lou Gerstner] has the substance of a genuine and ... interesting story."--Wall Street Journal

"Effective, to the point...Louis V. Gerstner Jr deserves his place in the management hall of fame."--Financial Times

"A well-rendered self-portrait of a CEO who made spectacular change on the strength of personal leadership."--Publishers Weekly

[Gerstner] entertains as he educates. --New York Times Book Review"

A well-rendered self-portrait of a CEO who made spectacular change on the strength of personal leadership. --Publishers Weekly"

Effective, to the point...Louis V. Gerstner Jr deserves his place in the management hall of fame. --Financial Times"

The best business book I ve ever read. --Imus in the Morning"

[Lou Gerstner] has the substance of a genuine and ... interesting story. --Wall Street Journal"

-[Gerstner] entertains as he educates.---New York Times Book Review

-A well-rendered self-portrait of a CEO who made spectacular change on the strength of personal leadership.---Publishers Weekly

-Effective, to the point...Louis V. Gerstner Jr deserves his place in the management hall of fame.---Financial Times

-The best business book I've ever read.---Imus in the Morning

-[Lou Gerstner] has the substance of a genuine and ... interesting story.---Wall Street Journal

From the Publisher:

When Louis V. Gerstner became CEO of IBM in 1993, shares had slumped and the company was on the verge of collapse. Hired for his successful management of RJR Nabisco and American Express, Gerstner had no background in technology, but during his seven-year chairmanship, he transformed the company into the leading force of the computer age.
Revealing his tactics step-by-step, Gerstner spins an engaging narrative that takes the reader behind the curtain into the unbelievable mess he inherited and into the office and mind of a CEO facing a challenge of a lifetime.

About this edition

• Publisher: Thorndike Pr
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0786252553
• ISBN 13: 9780786252558
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 564