Inside IBM: Lessons of a Corporate Culture in Action

IBM's corporate culture played a pivotal role in its success for over a century, combining training of managers, employee benefits, company rituals, and humor. Inside IBM explores the practices that built and reinforced this culture, highlighting the importance of material culture. James W. Cortada argues that IBM's culture aligned with its business imperatives, allowing it to prioritize stakeholders. This book offers valuable insights for business historians, executives, managers, and IBMers, particularly in stakeholder relations and corporate culture.

Format: Hardback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2023
Publisher: Columbia University Press

IBM, a global leader in information technology for much of the 20th century, achieved remarkable success through a combination of factors. In this comprehensive analysis, business historian James W. Cortada delves into the intricacies of IBM's corporate culture, shedding light on its origins, evolution, and profound impact on the corporation's longevity.

Cortada's book, "Inside IBM," offers an insightful and captivating exploration of the practices that shaped and reinforced IBM's organizational culture. Through a series of case studies, the book provides a deep dive into the practices that built and sustained IBM's culture, encompassing training of managers, employee benefits, company rituals, and the role of humor. It also examines the significance of material culture, such as coffee mugs and lapel pins, in shaping the company's identity.

One of the key aspects of IBM's corporate culture that Cortada highlights is its alignment with the company's business imperatives. Throughout its history, IBM prioritized the needs of its employees, customers, and stakeholders, rather than solely focusing on maximizing stockholder value. This commitment to a broader vision helped the corporation navigate complex business environments and maintain a strong reputation for reliability and trust.

Cortada identifies several key lessons that managers can learn from IBM's experience and apply in their own organizations today. These lessons include the importance of creating a shared vision and values, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, and investing in employee development and engagement. IBM's emphasis on collaboration and teamwork, as well as its commitment to customer-centricity, have also played a significant role in its long-term success.

"Inside IBM" is a valuable resource for business historians, executives, and managers interested in stakeholder relations, corporate culture, and IBM's history. The book offers a wealth of insights and perspectives, providing a deeper understanding of the factors that contributed to IBM's remarkable success and the lessons that can be applied to contemporary enterprises.

In conclusion, IBM's corporate culture played a pivotal
profound role in its long-term success, and the book "Inside IBM" offers valuable insights into the practices that shaped and reinforced this culture. By examining the origins of IBM's culture, its evolution, and its impact on the corporation's longevity, Cortada provides managers with valuable lessons that can be applied in their own organizations to achieve sustainable success.

Weight: 952g
Dimension: 165 x 246 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231213004