Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Compaq -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: steve kammerer who wrote (68019)	9/28/1999 1:30:00 PM
From: Captain Jack	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 97611

steve "This is NOT the same company that ran circles around IBM in the late 80's." But they ARE running in circles and not going anywhere.

To: steve kammerer who wrote (68019)	9/28/1999 6:30:00 PM
From: rudedog	Respond to of 97611

Steve - This is NOT the same company that ran circles around IBM in the late 80's. That is absolutely true. CPQ in the late 80's was a group of about a thousand people, a single, focused mission, a simple business model and a small management team. Everyone involved in a product or engineering decision could get into a single meeting. There was no conflict or confusion around product lines or who needed to do what. Much like the DELL business in the 90's. CPQ was a victim of the "law of large numbers" - as they achieved dominant market share, they needed to move out of the simple model to continue growth. As the business grew, the number of decision makers grew, and therefore the communication requirements grew exponentially. They knew in the mid-90's that they would have to change the business and that the transition would be hard. I don't think anyone knew how hard... but they are nearly on the other side of that chasm.