Chapter 12 Thoughts

This post details my thoughts about chapter 12 of the textbook. This chapter covered how Hollerith's tabulating machine company eventually evolved into the powerhouse IBM. It's interesting to note that Hollerith was a genius inventor, but that his genius didn't translate into the realm of business. Instead, it took the vision of entrepreneurs like Flint and Watson to transform the Tabulating Machine Company into what would become the world's most powerful business machine corporation. Another interesting aspect of the chapter was the fact that technological dominance didn't ensure business success. Hollerith's products were consistently the best in the industry, from the machines themselves to the cards they processed. Yet he was consistently challenged by competitors at every turn and had to fight to win each and every contract (including ones which he had previously held, like the census). In addition to leading-edge technology, a strong business infrastructure, pioneering leadership, and a remarkable sales force were also necessary to achieve dominance within the industry.