[IBM COMPANY PRESIDENT THOMAS J. WATSON, JR. REMARKS TO EMPLOYEES]

Year Published: 1970s

Creator: International Business Machines

Description:

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This IBM meeting kick-off film from the 1970s features company President Thomas J. Watson, Jr. Watson begins by welcoming everyone and emphasizing the focus on future plans and marketing strategies. Reflecting on the past decade, they highlight IBM's significant changes and achievements since the 1960s, including the introduction of early machines like the 705, 650, and RAMAC 305, and the 1401. He also discusses challenges faced, such as the consent decree and the need for a new operational concept, leading to divisionalization and decentralization. He mentions the competition IBM faced and the company's response, expressing gratitude to IBM employees for their contributions. He acknowledges global changes and IBM's adaptability, discussing new business strategies and the importance of IBM's people. He highlights the company's growth potential, the success of System 3, and express confidence in IBM's future, concluding with optimistic remarks and well wishes.

00:00: Introduction with music.

0:08 - 0:28: The speaker Thomas J. Watson Jr. welcomes everyone and mentions that today's meetings are focused on future plans and marketing strategies.

0:28 - 1:00: Watson Jr. reflects on the past decade, highlighting the significant changes and achievements of IBM since the 1960s.

1:00 - 1:39: Discussion of IBM's early machines like the 705, 650, and RAMAC 305, and the introduction of the 1401.

1:39 - 2:27: The speaker talks about the challenges IBM faced, including the consent decree and the need for a new operational concept, leading to the development of divisionalization and decentralization.

2:27 - 3:02: The speaker mentions the competition IBM faced and the company's response to these challenges.

3:02 - 3:43: Reflection on IBM's growth and achievements over the past decade, expressing gratitude to IBM employees.

3:43 - 4:22: Watson Jr. acknowledges the changes in the world and IBM's ability to adapt to these changes.

4:22 - 5:01: Discussion on IBM's response to the changing business environment and the introduction of new business strategies.

5:01 - 5:52: Watson Jr. talks about IBM's new way of doing business and the challenges ahead.

5:52 - 6:43: Emphasis on the importance of IBM's people and the company's commitment to providing a supportive environment.

6:43 - 7:22: He highlights the company's growth potential and the indicators of future success.

7:22 - 8:31: Discussion on the success of IBM's System/3 (an IBM midrange computer introduced in 1969, and marketed until 1985) and the company's strong market position.

8:31 - 9:15: Watson Jr. expresses confidence in IBM's future and the company's ability to overcome challenges.

9:15 - End: Closing remarks, expressing optimism for the future and wishing everyone good luck.

Thomas John Watson Jr. (January 14, 1914 – December 31, 1993) was an American businessman, diplomat, Army Air Forces pilot, and philanthropist. The son of IBM Corporation founder Thomas J. Watson, he was the second IBM president (1952–71), the 11th national president of the Boy Scouts of America (1964–68), and the 16th United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union (1979–81). He received many honors during his lifetime, including being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Fortune called him "the greatest capitalist in history" and Time listed him as one of "100 most influential people of the 20th century".

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Complete Record: This IBM meeting kick-off film from the 1970s features company President Thomas J. Watson, Jr. Watson begins by welcoming everyone and emphasizing the focus on future plans and marketing strategies. Reflecting on the past decade, they highlight IBM's significant changes and achievements since the 1960s, including the introduction of early machines like the 705, 650, and RAMAC 305, and the 1401. He also discusses challenges faced, such as the consent decree and the need for a new operational concept, leading to divisionalization and decentralization. He mentions the competition IBM faced and the company's response, expressing gratitude to IBM employees for their contributions. He acknowledges global changes and IBM's adaptability, discussing new business strategies and the importance of IBM's people. He highlights the company's growth potential, the success of System 3, and express confidence in IBM's future, concluding with optimistic remarks and well wishes. 00:00: Introduction with music. 0:08 - 0:28: The speaker Thomas J. Watson Jr. welcomes everyone and mentions that today's meetings are focused on future plans and marketing strategies. 0:28 - 1:00: Watson Jr. reflects on the past decade, highlighting the significant changes and achievements of IBM since the 1960s. 1:00 - 1:39: Discussion of IBM's early machines like the 705, 650, and RAMAC 305, and the introduction of the 1401. 1:39 - 2:27: The speaker talks about the challenges IBM faced, including the consent decree and the need for a new operational concept, leading to the development of divisionalization and decentralization. 2:27 - 3:02: The speaker mentions the competition IBM faced and the company's response to these challenges. 3:02 - 3:43: Reflection on IBM's growth and achievements over the past decade, expressing gratitude to IBM employees. 3:43 - 4:22: Watson Jr. acknowledges the changes in the world and IBM's ability to adapt to these changes. 4:22 - 5:01: Discussion on IBM's response to the changing business environment and the introduction of new business strategies. 5:01 - 5:52: Watson Jr. talks about IBM's new way of doing business and the challenges ahead. 5:52 - 6:43: Emphasis on the importance of IBM's people and the company's commitment to providing a supportive environment. 6:43 - 7:22: He highlights the company's growth potential and the indicators of future success. 7:22 - 8:31: Discussion on the success of IBM's System/3 (an IBM midrange computer introduced in 1969, and marketed until 1985) and the company's strong market position. 8:31 - 9:15: Watson Jr. expresses confidence in IBM's future and the company's ability to overcome challenges. 9:15 - End: Closing remarks, expressing optimism for the future and wishing everyone good luck. Thomas John Watson Jr. (January 14, 1914 – December 31, 1993) was an American businessman, diplomat, Army Air Forces pilot, and philanthropist. The son of IBM Corporation founder Thomas J. Watson, he was the second IBM president (1952–71), the 11th national president of the Boy Scouts of America (1964–68), and the 16th United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union (1979–81). He received many honors during his lifetime, including being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Fortune called him "the greatest capitalist in history" and Time listed him as one of "100 most influential people of the 20th century".

Transcription

[Music] good morning ladies and gentlemen all of your meetings today are focused on the future on marketing plans quotas what needs to be done in the coming year and that's as it should be in a dynamic company like ours none of us can afford to spend very much time looking backwards but the de deade we leave has been a very unusual one for IBM and I simply couldn't let this day go by without a brief look at where we were as the 60s began it tells us something I think about where we're headed the story is told really in this annual report for the year 1959 two out of three of you watching me weren't even with the IBM company in those days so most of you have probably never seen the machines featured in this document the 705 the 650 the ramac 305 they're historic landmarks now in fact the first 702 computer is in the Smithsonian institution today the concept of the 360 didn't even exist at that time no one had ever even heard of SLT technology our typewriter division was not yet marketing dictation equipment nor had the selectric typewriter been announced we were just introducing the 1401 and we had no idea what its reception would be there were other uncertainties as well the consent decree was only 3 years old and we still weren't sure what its full impact on the company would be until 1956 IBM had been run pretty much as a monolith given the size we were then running the company that way had worked extremely well but as we look forward to 1957 and Beyond it became apparent that A New Concept for operating needed to be developed if we were to manage the growth possibilities ahead of us and so we went to Williamsburg Virginia and set in place divisionalization line staff relationships and the overall concept of decentralization as we moved into the 60s however we were still unsure whether this new organization then only three years old would stand the test of time competition looked particularly formidable that year because a number of America's biggest companies had recently entered our field a few announced that they intended to cut our share of Market dramatically we were running scared and we still are and I hope we always will it's healthy the facts the numbers all illustrate what's happened since we've come a long long way in a remarkably short span of years I venture to say that no company in history has come as far as fast drawn such attention and made such an impact on so many segments of society all around the world and most of those impacts have been good I'm particularly aware of this sweep of events these achievements this morning it's been an exciting decade for me and I hope for all of you who have been a part of it I come out of it with an immense sense of gratitude to every IBM man and woman who helped make it happen as we move out of one decade and into another I want very much to convey to all of you my most profound thanks and the thanks of all of my associates in armun for your commitment and your effort it's been a great many individual IBM people who collectively make up this company and its management team and make us look good I never have and never will forget the source of this company's strength and success the world has changed dramatically since 1960 we see these changes all around us in National and international Affairs on the campuses in the style of our lives and in our children children these changes have not always been easy to accept they've not always been changes for the better they've demanded from each of us adjustments new efforts to understand new determination to make the longterm future the kind of future we want for ourselves and for our children in business too over the past decade things have changed here too adjustments have not been easy but IBM and its people certainly have responded to the changed environment superbly in the 60s and I'm confident we'll do so again in the 70s we have in fact already begun in data processing for example IBM's new way of doing business is clearly a response to a changing world it's never been easy to enter a new business and we've entered several of them all at once as we begin to sell some of our services for the first time all of you who have done a remarkable job during our transition period I know that what lies ahead will be tough and demanding but that's the way our business has always been long range I'm confident that the results of our new policies will benefit not only the industry but the company and everyone in it there will be other changes in IBM as we move through the decade I'm sure most of you came to the company compan because it was a dynamic company of change and it will be no less so in the 70s we'll be changing our organization our products our marketing strategies will change whatever is necessary to keep this company moving ahead one thing we've tried not to change in the past decade one thing we are unwilling to change is our concern for and our feeling about IBM people we've worked very hard to bring into this company the kind of individuals who want to make it more successful than when they came aboard and we've worked just as hard trying to provide the kind of environment that they need to grow personally and professionally our need for that kind of man and woman and for that kind of environment will never change we're looking for men and women with an insatiable desire to make things better a healthy to satis action with the present and an abundant hope for the future plus the willingness to work hard to forge that future into the form that they hope for I've been saying for a year or two now the1 billion in Revenue was in sight for our company looking ahead that figure looms vastly conservative there are many indicators of things to come dp's record-breaking 3500 new accounts last year in field engineering the improved performance of our engineers and our products World trades DP sales record more than 50% better than the year before the continued strength of system 360 op's growing product line and its new marketing strategy but in a way the systems 3 story alone tells all there is to know about what IBM people in any part of the company can do from Ground Zero with a completely new machine you and the data processing division did such a remarkable job in just a few months that despite what appeared to be an optimistic forecast we now have a delivery problem you can be sure that will be Whitted down a lot of people are working on it but what you've already done makes it clear that IBM will occupy a strong position in this slow end of the commercial Market these are only a few of my reasons for my confidence in the future in my estimation there's nothing to hold us back not the legal suits we'll come out of those all right nor the competition even though it will certainly get stronger nothing can hold us back if the people in the IBM company will perform with the same skill and dedication as you have in the 60s if we believe in each other and in our goals in our relevance and in our ability to improve our society then I know this company will move as excitingly in the years ahead as it did in the 60s we are I believe only at the beginning good luck to each one of you

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