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HP employee from 1976-1988.....(long rant) Posted by REM in Seattle [Email]  (#4)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from REM in Seattle) on Tue, 19 Jul 2005 20:36:10
In Reply to: Long slow decline of HP, J, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 12:34:15 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I joined HP right out of college. I worked at the Corvallis, Oregon calculator division, Loveland test instrument division, Loveland CMOS IC group, and Lake Stevens test instrument division.
There was always some conflict in HP between the fast paced, quick product cycle, computer side of the company and the more mature, evolutionary, test and medical equipment side of the company.
However, I believe that the company began to lose ground in the late 1980 when the MBA became more important that the engineer. I saw more and more decisions being based on ROI projections instead of the more HP traditional "would the engineer in the next cubicle actually buy one of these" decisions. I believe there was room for both approaches, but the MBA spreadsheets won out and the company began to chase increased stock values and dividends instead of concentrating on making innovative products to meet specific demands and needs.
I remember being told about the HP - Agilent split. The reason given was that the instrument divisions did not fit the fast turn model HP wanted. In addition, the stock market analysts felt companies should be concentrated on a single market segment to be the most fruitful. Of course, it was just that multi-market diversity that had helped HP weather several changes in the economy.
So now, both Agilent and HP are in poor position and the market analysts want companies that are more diverse again. I believe that HP should have stayed the course set by Bill and Dave, each product needs to bring a tangible benefit to the customer and to the market as a whole. Innovation needs to have a purpose to exist, and when it does, the market will reward you by buying your products.
It is hard to say what the purpose of HP or Agilent is today. They seem to be just another player selling the same products as the rest.
_______________________________________ REM in Seattle Current: 2013 Volvo XC60 R-Design, Rebel Blue, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic 2024 MINI Cooper S Convertible, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 6-speed manual Former: 2005 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible, Steel Gray metallic, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 5-speed 1998 Saab 900SET 5-door, Silver, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider convertible, Alfa Red, 2.0L 4-cyl, 5-speed 1984 Saab 900T 3-door, Red, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 5-speed
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