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Published by BenBella Books
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
The story of Compaq is well-known: Three ex-Texas Instruments managers founded Compaq with modest venture funding. Just four years later, Compaq was on the Fortune 500 list, and, two years after that, they had exceeded $1 billion in annual revenue. No company had ever achieved these milestones so rapidly.
But few know the story behind the story. In 1982, when Compaq was founded, there was no software standardization, so every brand of personal computer required its own unique application software. Just eight years later, compatibility with the open PC standard had become ubiquitous, and it has continued to be for over two decades.
This didn't happen by accident. Cofounder and then CEO Rod Canion and his team made a series of risky and daring decisions—often facing criticism and incredulity—that allowed the open PC standard marketplace to thrive and the incredible benefits of open computing to be realized.
A never-before-published insider account of Compaq's extraordinary strategies and decisions, Open provides valuable lessons in leadership in times of crisis, management decision-making under the pressure of extraordinary growth, and the power of a unique, pervasive culture.
Open tells the incredible story of Compaq's meteoric rise from humble beginnings to become the PC industry leader in just over a decade. Along the way, Compaq helped change the face of computing while establishing the foundation for today's world of tablets and smart phones.
But few know the story behind the story. In 1982, when Compaq was founded, there was no software standardization, so every brand of personal computer required its own unique application software. Just eight years later, compatibility with the open PC standard had become ubiquitous, and it has continued to be for over two decades.
This didn't happen by accident. Cofounder and then CEO Rod Canion and his team made a series of risky and daring decisions—often facing criticism and incredulity—that allowed the open PC standard marketplace to thrive and the incredible benefits of open computing to be realized.
A never-before-published insider account of Compaq's extraordinary strategies and decisions, Open provides valuable lessons in leadership in times of crisis, management decision-making under the pressure of extraordinary growth, and the power of a unique, pervasive culture.
Open tells the incredible story of Compaq's meteoric rise from humble beginnings to become the PC industry leader in just over a decade. Along the way, Compaq helped change the face of computing while establishing the foundation for today's world of tablets and smart phones.
Product Details
- Publisher: BenBella Books (October 15, 2013)
- Length: 256 pages
- ISBN13: 9781936661923
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Raves and Reviews
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""Rod Canion reveals the back-room battles, secret alliances, and bet-the-company decisions he made as CEO of Compaq, which he guided from start-up to the Fortune 500 in less than four years. Canion's process for making executive decisions will be of interest to managers in any competitive industry.""
—Peter H. Lewis, former Senior Writer and technology columnist for The New York Times
""Compaq's early business decisions changed the course of personal computing. This is a detailed inside look at those high-risk, high-reward calls by the executive who made them and holds important lessons for competitive strategy.""
—Richard Shaffer, former technology columnist for The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Fortune
""Canion's description of the human side of cobbling together what's needed to create one of these standards is correct -- and a good read, too.""
—Andy Grove, former CEO of Intel
""Yet remarkably, just a decade later, Compaq had successfully toppled IBM as the world's largest PC company. In this fast-paced recounting of how the inconceivable became the actual, Compaq co-founder Rod Canion tells how daunting hurdles were overcome and opportunities seized. Open will take you along on this exhilarating ride through technology, innovation, and unprecedented industrial growth.""
—Ben Rosen, former Chairman of Compaq
""This book is a must-read for anyone seriously interested in innovation, investment in startups, or the information industry.""
—William F. Zachmann, Computer and Communications Industry Analyst and Former V.P. of Market Research at International Data Corp.
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- Book Cover Image (jpg): Open eBook 9781936661923
