Saving Big Blue: Leadership Lessons and Turnaround Tactics of IBM's Lou Gerstner

by Robert Slater

Book Overview

From the early 1950s into the late '80s, IBM was the computer industry. Not only that, IBM was, to many, industry itself. It consistently set the standard for corporate performance and profitability,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0071342117
• ISBN13: 9780071342117
• Release Date: July 1999
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
• Length: 309 Pages
• Weight: 1.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

excellent example of leadership vs corporate complacency

As a former employee of both IBM and AT & T, I lived through years of lack of leadership, innovation and bad management decisions. Lou Gerstner demonstrated that a few common sense principles (listen, customers, focus) go a long way in building a business. I enjoyed the book very much and recommended it to my co-workers.

GREAT/FANTASTIC OVERVIEW OF IBM TURNAROUND

I thorougly enjoyed this book because of the way it explained the painful steps necessary to turn around a corporate dinosaur into a competitive star.Mr. Gerstner is without question one of the best turnaround artist in the world.

For a Juicier Read, See Garr's Just Released IBM Redux

As both an IBM employee & one very interested in the workings of this unique company, I enjoyed reading 2 just-released books in the past 2 weeks, Robert Slater's Saving IBM and Garr's. Slater's was the business case version of IBM. Garr's was the real scoop behind the workings of not just Gerstner but his many lieutenants, both long-time IBM employees and outsiders. Although I was somewhat embarrassed by some of Garr's stories, including the FUMU's, I still enjoyed the book. I was disappointed in the lack of coverage with IBM Global Services.

Good book - ignore bitter IBMers moaning over pension change

This is a very good book that clearly explains what happened at IBM and Lou G's key role. Yes, despite the negative comments on the book which are aimed at Lou for changing the pension plan to benefit ALL IBMers (not just old ones) - this is a good book.The bitter IBMers should get a grip. Nobody promised you ANYTHING. Blaming Lou because he did the RIGHT thing in changing to a cash basis is useless. Get on with your life and recognize that Lou is a genius.Highly recommended.