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{{Infobox_Company |
{{Infobox_Company |
company_name = International Business Machines Corporation |
company_name = International Business Machines Corporation |
company_logo = |
company_logo = [[Image:IBM_logo.svg|150px|IBM logo (1972- )]] |
company_type = Public ([[New York Stock Exchange|NYSE]]: [http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/lcddata.html?ticker=IBM IBM]) |
company_type = Public ([[New York Stock Exchange|NYSE]]: [http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/lcddata.html?ticker=IBM IBM]) |
foundation = 1888, incorporated 1911 |
foundation = 1888, incorporated 1911 |
location = [[United States|USA]] |
location = {{flagicon|USA}} [[Armonk, New York]], [[United States|USA]] |
key_people = [[Samuel J. Palmisano]], Chairman & CEO<br/> [[Mark Loughridge]] SVP & CFO<br/>[[Dan Fortin]], President (Canada)<br/>[[Frank Kern]], President (Asia Pacific)<br/>[[Nick Donofrio]], EVP (Innovation & Technology)<br/>[[Colleen Arnold]], President IOT Northeast Europe<br/>[[Dominique Cerutti]], President IOT Southwest Europe |
key_people = [[Samuel J. Palmisano]], Chairman & CEO<br/> [[Mark Loughridge]] SVP & CFO<br/>[[Dan Fortin]], President (Canada)<br/>[[Frank Kern]], President (Asia Pacific)<br/>[[Nick Donofrio]], EVP (Innovation & Technology)<br/>[[Colleen Arnold]], President IOT Northeast Europe<br/>[[Dominique Cerutti]], President IOT Southwest Europe |
industry = [[Computer hardware]]<br/>[[Computer software]]<br/>[[Consultant|Consulting]]<br/>[[IT Service Management|IT Services]] |
industry = [[Computer hardware]]<br/>[[Computer software]]<br/>[[Consultant|Consulting]]<br/>[[IT Service Management|IT Services]] |
footnotes =
footnotes =
}}
}}
{{for|other uses of the acronym IBM|IBM (disambiguation)}}
{{for|other uses of the name "Big Blue"|Big Blue (disambiguation)}}
'''International Business Machines Corporation''' ('''IBM''', or, [[Colloquialism|colloquially]], '''Big Blue'''; {{nyse|IBM}}) is a [[multinational corporation|multinational]] [[computer]] [[technology]] [[corporation]] headquartered in [[Armonk, New York]], [[United States|USA]]. The company is one of the few information technology companies with a continuous history dating back to the 19th century; it was founded in [[1888]] and incorporated (as [[Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation (CTR)]]) on [[June 15]] [[1911]], and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1916. IBM manufactures and sells [[computer hardware]], [[computer software|software]], infrastructure services, [[Internet hosting service|hosting services]], and [[consultant|consulting services]] in areas ranging from [[mainframe computer]]s to [[nanotechnology]]<ref>http://domino.research.ibm.com/comm/research.nsf/pages/r.nanotech.html</ref>. With almost 330,000 employees worldwide and revenues of [[United States dollar|US $]]91 billion<ref name="morningstar"/> annually (figures from 2005), IBM is the largest [[information technology]] company in the world, and holds more [[patent]]s than any other technology company.<ref name="patents">{{cite web| url=http://www.ibm.com/news/us/en/2006/01/2006_01_10.html| title=IBM maintains patent lead, moves to increase patent quality| date=[[2006-01-10]]|}}</ref>
'''International Business Machines Corporation''' ('''IBM''', or, [[Colloquialism|colloquially]], '''Big Blue'''; {{nyse|IBM}}) is a [[multinational corporation|multinational]] [[computer]] [[technology]] [[corporation]] headquartered in [[Armonk, New York]], [[United States|USA]]. The company is one of the few information technology companies with a continuous history dating back to the 19th century; it was founded in [[1888]] and incorporated (as [[Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation (CTR)]]) on [[June 15]] [[1911]], and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1916. IBM manufactures and sells [[computer hardware]], [[computer software|software]], infrastructure services, [[Internet hosting service|hosting services]], and [[consultant|consulting services]] in areas ranging from [[mainframe computer]]s to [[nanotechnology]]<ref>http://domino.research.ibm.com/comm/research.nsf/pages/r.nanotech.html</ref>. With almost 330,000 employees worldwide and revenues of [[United States dollar|US $]]91 billion<ref name="morningstar"/> annually (figures from 2005), IBM is the largest [[information technology]] company in the world, and holds more [[patent]]s than any other technology company.<ref name="patents">{{cite web| url=http://www.ibm.com/news/us/en/2006/01/2006_01_10.html| title=IBM maintains patent lead, moves to increase patent quality| date=[[2006-01-10]]|}}</ref>
As a chip maker IBM is among the [[Worldwide Top 20 Semiconductor Sales Leaders]].
As a chip maker IBM is among the [[Worldwide Top 20 Semiconductor Sales Leaders]].
==History==
See [[History of IBM]].
==Projects==
===BlueEyes===
BlueEyes<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/BlueEyes/index.html| title= IBM Almaden Research Center}}</ref> is the name of a human recognition venture initiated by IBM to allow people to interact with [[computer]]s in a more natural manner. The technology aims to enable devices to recognize and use natural input, such as facial expressions. The initial developments of this project include scroll [[computer mouse|mice]] and other input devices that sense the user's [[pulse]], monitor his or her facial expressions, and the movement of his or her eyelids.
===Eclipse===
{{Main|Eclipse (software)}}
Eclipse is a platform-independent [[software framework]] written in the [[Java programming language]]. Eclipse was originally a [[proprietary]] product developed by IBM as a successor of its [[VisualAge]] family of tools. As of [[2006]], Eclipse is managed by the [[Non-profit organization|non-profit]] [[Eclipse Foundation]] and the source code is released under the [[free software]], [[open source]] [[Eclipse Public License]].
===alphaWorks===
Free software available at [[alphaWorks]], IBM's source for emerging software technology:
#Flexible Internet Evaluation Report Architecture: A highly flexible architecture for the design, display, and reporting of Internet surveys.
#History Flow Visualization Application: A tool for visualizing dynamic, evolving documents and the interactions of multiple collaborating authors.
#IBM Performance Simulator for [[Linux]] on POWER: A tool that provides users of Linux on Power a set of performance models for IBM's POWER processors.
#Database File Archive And Restoration Management: An application for archiving and restoring hard disk files whose file references are stored in a database.
#Policy Management for Autonomic Computing: A policy-based autonomic management infrastructure that simplifies the automation of IT and business processes. (This is an [[ETTK]] technology.)
#FairUCE: A spam filter that stops spam by verifying sender identity instead of filtering content.
#Unstructured Information Management Architecture (UIMA) SDK: A Java SDK that supports the implementation, composition, and deployment of applications working with unstructured information.
===Extreme Blue===
Designed as a cross-disciplinary high-profile technology initiative, [http://ibm.com/extremeblue Extreme Blue] is designed to pair up experienced IBM engineers, talented interns, and business managers to develop high-value technology. Great emphasis is placed on emerging business needs and the technologies that can solve them. Sites are operated in [[San Jose, California]], [[Austin, Texas]], and [[Raleigh, North Carolina]], as well as outside the United States.
These projects tend to involve rapid-prototyping of high-profile software or hardware projects and business opportunities. Entry is competitive, both for interns and for IBM employees seeking career growth opportunities with a management focus.
===Gaming===
IBM develops processing chips for [[video game console|gaming consoles]]. The [[Xbox 360]] contains IBM's tri-core chipset [[Xenon (processor)|Xenon]]. At the request of [[Microsoft]], IBM was able to design the chip and ramp up to production volumes in less than 24 months (with co-production at [[Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing]] in Singapore.)<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www-03.ibm.com/chips/news/2005/1025_xbox.html| title=IBM delivers Power-based chip for Microsoft Xbox 360 worldwide launch| publisher=IBM| date=[[2005-10-25]]}}</ref> Meanwhile, Sony's [[PlayStation 3]] will feature the [[Cell microprocessor|Cell]], a new chip designed by IBM, [[Toshiba]], and Sony in a joint venture. The Cell processor is already slated for use in other systems (Toshiba plans to use it on [[High-definition television|HDTVs]]), unlike the Xbox 360 chip, whose plans are owned by Microsoft. The [[Wii]] will (like its predecessor, the [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]) feature an IBM chip (codenamed [[Broadway (microprocessor)|Broadway]]).
In May 2002, IBM and Butterfly.net, Inc. announced the Butterfly Grid, a commercial [[grid computing|grid]] for the online video gaming market.<ref>{{Cite web| url= http://www-03.ibm.com/industries/media/doc/content/news/pressrelease/359248111.html| title= Butterfly and IBM introduce first video game industry computing grid| date=[[2002-05-09]]| publisher=IBM}}</ref> In March 2006, IBM announced separate agreements with Hoplon Infotainment, Online Game Services Incorporated (OGSI) and RenderRocket. The deals included on-demand (for Hoplon Infotainment and RenderRocket) and [[blade server]]s (for OGSI).<ref>{{Cite web| url= http://www-03.ibm.com/industries/media/doc/content/news/pressrelease/1551338111.html| title= IBM joins forces with game companies around the world to accelerate innovation| date=[[2006-03-21]]| publisher=IBM}}</ref>
==Big Blue==
==Big Blue==
In 2006, Palmisano launched another jam, called [https://www.globalinnovationjam.com/InnovationJamPhaseTwo/login.jsp InnovationJam]. Its most innovative aspect was that members of IBM employees' families, together with employees from IBM's customers—i.e. most of the world's largest corporations—could join in and discuss future products. Thus in September 2006, the openness of IBM—through its use of executive blogs and its active encouragement for its staff to discuss in open forum the future direction of IBM products—formed a stark contrast with that of [[Hewlett-Packard|HP]], which had been caught using unethical methods to prevent executives from talking to the press.
In 2006, Palmisano launched another jam, called [https://www.globalinnovationjam.com/InnovationJamPhaseTwo/login.jsp InnovationJam]. Its most innovative aspect was that members of IBM employees' families, together with employees from IBM's customers—i.e. most of the world's largest corporations—could join in and discuss future products. Thus in September 2006, the openness of IBM—through its use of executive blogs and its active encouragement for its staff to discuss in open forum the future direction of IBM products—formed a stark contrast with that of [[Hewlett-Packard|HP]], which had been caught using unethical methods to prevent executives from talking to the press.
IBM has, since March 1998 when it announced support for Linux, been influenced by the [[open source movement]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibm.com/news/1999/03/02.phtml |title=IBM launches biggest Linux lineup ever |date=[[1999-03-02]] |publisher=IBM |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/19991110114228/http://www.ibm.com/news/1999/03/02.phtml |archivedate=1999-11-10}}</ref> The company invests billions of dollars in services and software based on [[Linux]] through the IBM Linux Technology Center, which includes over 300 [[Linux kernel]] developers.<ref>{{cite web| title=IBM invests in Brazil Linux Tech Center| url=http://lwn.net/Articles/185602/| date=[[2006-05-24]]| publisher=[[LWN.net]]| author=Farrah Hamid|}}</ref> IBM has also released code under different [[open-source license]]s, for example the platform-independent software framework Eclipse (worth circa $US40 million at the time of the donation)<ref>{{Cite web | url= http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-erick.html|title= Interview: The Eclipse code donation| date=[[2001-11-01]]| publisher= IBM}}</ref> and the java-based [[relational database management system]] (RDBMS) [[Apache Derby]]. IBM's open source involvement has not been trouble-free, however; see ''[[SCO v. IBM]]''.
IBM has, since March 1998 when it announced support for Linux, been influenced by the [[open source movement]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibm.com/news/1999/03/02.phtml |title=IBM launches biggest Linux lineup ever |date=[[1999-03-02]] |publisher=IBM |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/19991110114228/http://www.ibm.com/news/1999/03/02.phtml |archivedate=1999-11-10}}</ref> The company invests billions of dollars in services and software based on [[Linux]] through the IBM Linux Technology Center, which includes over 300 [[Linux kernel]] developers.<ref>{{cite web| title=IBM invests in Brazil Linux Tech Center| url=http://lwn.net/Articles/185602/| date=[[2006-05-24]]| publisher=[[LWN.net]]| author=Farrah Hamid|}}</ref> IBM has also released code under different [[open-source license]]s, for example the platform-independent software framework Eclipse (worth circa $US40 million at the time of the donation)<ref>{{Cite web | url= http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-erick.html|title= Interview: The Eclipse code donation| date=[[2001-11-01]]| publisher= IBM}}</ref> and the [[Java (programming language)|Java]]-based [[relational database management system]] (RDBMS) [[Apache Derby]]. IBM's open source involvement has not been trouble-free, however; see ''[[SCO v. IBM]]''.
==Project Management Center of Excellence==
==Project Management Center of Excellence==
IBM PM Certification is a significant achievement for any IBMer. It is a deliberately long process with multiple checkpoints designed to ensure the integrity, fairness and validity of the certification.
IBM PM Certification is a significant achievement for any IBMer. It is a deliberately long process with multiple checkpoints designed to ensure the integrity, fairness and validity of the certification.
==Corporate affairs==
===Diversity and workforce issues===
IBM's efforts to promote workforce diversity and equal opportunity date back at least to [[World War I]], when the company hired disabled veterans. IBM was the only technology company ranked in ''[[Working Mother]]'' magazine's Top 10 for 2004, and one of two technology companies in 2005 (the other company being Hewlett-Packard).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.workingwoman.com/top10.html |title=100 best companies for working mothers 2004 |publisher= Working Mother Media, Inc. |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20041017073511/http://www.workingwoman.com/top10.html | archivedate = 2004-10-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.workingwoman.com/top10.html |title=100 best companies 2005 |publisher= Working Mother Media, Inc.| | accessdate = 2006-06-26}}</ref>
The company has traditionally resisted [[trade union|labor union]] organizing, although unions represent some IBM workers outside the United States. [http://www.allianceibm.org Alliance@IBM], part of the [[Communications Workers of America]], is trying to organize IBM in the U.S. with very little success.
In the 1990s, two major [[pension]] program changes, including a conversion to a cash balance plan, resulted in an employee [[class action]] lawsuit alleging [[age discrimination]]. IBM employees won the lawsuit and arrived at a partial settlement, although appeals are still underway.
Historically IBM has had a good reputation of long-term staff retention with few large scale layoffs. In more recent years there have been a number of broad sweeping cuts to the workforce as IBM attempts to adapt to changing market conditions and a declining profit base. After posting weaker than expected revenues in the first quarter of 2005, IBM eliminated 14,500 positions from its workforce, predominantly in Europe. On [[June 8]] [[2005]], IBM Canada Ltd. eliminated approximately 700 positions. IBM projects these as part of a strategy to 'rebalance' its portfolio of professional skills & businesses. [[IBM India]] and other IBM offices in [[China]], the [[Philippines]] and [[Costa Rica]] have been witnessing a recruitment boom and steady growth in number of employees.
On [[October 10]] [[2005]], IBM became the first major company in the world to formally commit to not using [[genetic testing|genetic information]] in its employment decisions. This came just a few months after IBM announced its support of the [[National Geographic Society]]'s [[The Genographic Project|Genographic Project]].
==== Gay rights ====
IBM provides employees' same-sex partners with benefits and provides an anti-discrimination clause. The Human Rights Campaign has consistently rated IBM a 100, the highest score, on its index of gay-friendliness since it began compiling its report on major companies in 2002.[http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Get_Informed2&CONTENTID=31668&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm]
==Logos==
==Logos==
Image:Older IBM Logo.png|The logo that was used from 1947 to 1956. The familiar "globe" was replaced with the simple letters "IBM" in a typeface called "Beton Bold."
Image:Older IBM Logo.png|The logo that was used from 1947 to 1956. The familiar "globe" was replaced with the simple letters "IBM" in a typeface called "Beton Bold."
Image:Old IBM Logo.png|The logo that was used from 1956 to 1972. The letters "IBM" took on a more solid, grounded and balanced appearance.
Image:Old IBM Logo.png|The logo that was used from 1956 to 1972. The letters "IBM" took on a more solid, grounded and balanced appearance.
Image:IBM logo.png|In 1972, the horizontal stripes now replaced the solid letters to suggest "speed and dynamism." The logo was designed by legendary graphic designer [[Paul Rand]].
Image:IBM logo.png|In 1972, the horizontal stripes now replaced the solid letters to suggest "speed and dynamism." The logo was designed by graphic designer [[Paul Rand]].
</gallery>
</gallery>
==Board of directors==
Current members of the [[board of directors]] of IBM are: [[Cathleen Black]], [[Ken Chenault]], [[Juergen Dormann]], [[Michael Eskew]], [[Shirley Ann Jackson]], [[Charles F. Knight]], [[Minoru Makihara]], [[Lucio Noto]], [[James W. Owens]] (effective 1 March 2006), [[Samuel J. Palmisano]], [[Joan Spero]], [[Sidney Taurel]], [[Charles Vest]], and [[Lorenzo Zambrano]].
==See also==
*[[IBM PC]]
*[[IBM PC compatible|IBM PC compatible (or IBM PC clone)]]
*[[List of IBM acquisitions and spinoffs]]
*[[List of IBM products]]
*[[List of commercial failures in computer technology]]
*[[SCO v. IBM]]
==References and footnotes==
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
<references />
</div>
<div class="references-small">
*Gerstner, Jr., Louis V. (2002). ''Who Says Elephants Can't Dance?'' HarperCollins. ISBN 0-00-715448-8.
*{{cite book | last= Black| first= Edwin| title= IBM and the Holocaust: The Strategic Alliance Between Nazi Germany and America's Most Powerful Corporation| url= http://www.ibmandtheholocaust.com/| date=[[2001-02-12]] | publisher= Crown Publishing Group| location= New York| id= ISBN 0-609-60799-5| pages=528}}
</div>
==Further reading==
<div class="references-small">
<!-- Please keep this list in order of: 1) Year of publication [newest first], 2) Author's surname [A-Z], 3) Title [A-Z] -->
{| cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0
|-
| Robert Slater
| 1999
| ''Saving Big Blue: IBM's Lou Gerstner''
| MCgraw Hill
|-
| Emerson W. Pugh
| 1996
| ''Building IBM: Shaping an Industry''
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology
|-
| Robert Heller
| 1994
| ''The Fate of IBM''
| Little Brown
|-
| Paul Carroll
| 1993
| ''Big Blues: The Unmaking of IBM''
| Crown Publishers
|-
| Roy A Bauer et al
| 1992
| ''The Silverlake Project: Transformation at IBM (AS/400)''
| Oxford University Press
|-
|[[Edwin Black]]
| [[2001]]
| ''IBM and The Holocaust''
| Three Rivers Press (CA)
|-
| Thomas J Watson Jr.
| 1990
| ''Father, Son & Co: My Life at IBM and Beyond''
| Bantam
|-
| David Mercer
| 1987
| ''IBM: How the World's Most Successful Corporation is Managed'' [http://futureobservatory.dyndns.org/2013.htm]
| Kogan Page
|-
| Richard Thomas DeLamarter
| 1986
| ''Big Blue: IBM's Use and Abuse of Power''
| Macmillan
|-
| Buck Rodgers
| 1986
| ''The IBM Way''
| Harper & Row
|-
| [[Robert Sobel]]
| [[1981]]
| ''IBM: Colossus in Transition''
| ISBN 0-8129-1000-1
|-
| [[Robert Sobel]]
| 1981
| ''Thomas Watson, Sr.: IBM and the Computer Revolution'' (biography of [[Thomas J. Watson]])
| ISBN 1-893122-82-4
|}
</div>
==External links==
{{commons|International Business Machines}}
*[http://www.ibm.com/ IBM official website]
**[http://www.ibm.com/news/ News]
**[http://www.ibm.com/press/us/en/ Press Room]
**[http://www.ibm.com/ibm/syndication/ Syndicated Information]
**[http://www.ibm.com/ondemand/ On Demand Business]
**[http://www.ibm.com/servers/ eServers]
**[http://www.ibm.com/grid/ Grid computing]
**[http://www.ibm.com/alphaworks alphaWorks]
**[http://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/ History]
*[http://barry_froggatt.users.btopenworld.com/songbook.html The IBM Songbook]; [http://anthems.zdnet.co.uk/anthems/ibm.swf ''Ever Onward''] (needs Flash)
*[http://www.ibm.com/research/ IBM Research], with links to [http://www.ibm.com/research/cambridge/ Cambridge, Massachusetts] and [http://www.zurich.ibm.com Zurich] facilities, among others
*[http://www.hagley.lib.de.us/1980.htm IBM Antitrust Suit Records 1950-1982]
*[http://www.google.com/search?q=ibmjarg IBM Jargon Dictionary]
*[http://www.computercraft.com/docs/ibm.html IBM Compatibles]
*[http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/ developerWorks - IBM's resource for software developers], including [http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/blogs/index.jspa blogs]
*[http://www.power.org/ power.org]
*[http://www.companypay.com/executive/compensation/international_business_machines_corp.asp?yr=2005 IBM Executive Compensation]
*[http://www.columbia.edu/acis/history/watsonlab.html History of IBM Watson Research Laboratory at Columbia University]
{{Finance links
{{Finance links