Customer Reviews

Big Blues: The Unmaking of IBM

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a penetrating and often amusing look at the rise and fall of IBM. It's dated, much like any book about computers that was published about seven years ago is obviously expected to be.

If IBM is doing better now, this book might have had something to do with it. Things like corporate hymnals, the ponderous decisionmaking process, and the reasons for the failure of IBM's PS/2 line are all exposed in humiliating detail. As a former retail sales rep for an IBM dealer from 1988-1990, I can tell you that in that time frame the IBM I saw looked a lot like Carroll's portrayal (and completely turned me off about them). This book is worth a search.

Paul Caroll's years of experience covering IBM and his expertise as a writer really shows in this riveting documentary of IBM. The only problem with the book is that it is out of date. IBM has turned its business around under its present management and is doing quite well.

This book is more about bureaucracy than IBM. It demonstrates just how difficult it is to remain on-the-ball in the face of rapidly advancing technological innovation. It also provides a rare and wonderful insight into the perpetual battle between the creative individual and the second-rate bureaucrat. If you loved Orwell and Kafka you're gonna roll about the floor with this one. More importantly, especially in today's debate over Microsoft, the book clearly demonstrates why a monopoly is impossible within the high-tech industry. After reading this book you will understand Bill Gates and realize just how vulnerable Microsoft really is.

An amusing book that attributes IBM's success to a couple of lucky business decisions followed by endless blunders. Carroll makes alot of assertions about IBM but provides few facts to back them up. Whether you like IBM or not, you have to ask yourself, "If what Carroll says is true, how does IBM continue to stay in business and make a profit?"