The story of Hewlett and Packard has become legendary throughout Silicon Valley: two guys who started off in a small garage with just a few hundred dollars go on to create the largest IT company in the world. How did they do it? How did these two college buddies work their way out of the garage and into the homes and offices of consumers around the world?
Management: “What we consider the HP Way doesn't just happen from the top; it's built into the organization,” said Hewlett. “I tell HP people, 'You're really the propagators of the HP Way. You're where it resides.’” From day one, Hewlett and Packard insisted on running things their way, and that meant the HP Way. From generous health plans to flexible hours, Hewlett and Packard set new industry standards for corporate management.
Innovation: At HP, innovation was not just a catch-phrase. It was a way of being for everyone from the plant engineers right up to the CEOs. By creating offices that had few walls, making parts and equipment accessible at all times, and keeping in touch with their employees, Hewlett and Packard ensured that their company stayed on the cutting edge.
Courage: “We wished to operate, as much as possible, on a pay-as-you-go basis,” said Hewlett, “that our growth be financed by our earnings and not by debt.” It was a bold thing to do – to refuse to take on any debt. But when it came to taking bold steps, Hewlett and Packard were no strangers. They ran their company with guts and looked for people to come on board who would do the same.
Collaboration: Hewlett and Packard knew that in order to stay on top of the industry, they had to stay aware of everything that was going on around them. That is why they decided to collaborate with their competition in cases that were not directly connected to their long-term strategy. They hoped that the open dialogue would help further spur their innovations.
Passion: Hewlett and Packard were passionate about their business. They would have had to be to have grown it to what it is today. But they were also passionate about something else: the outdoors. It was their shared love for nature that helped strengthen both their personal and professional relationships, and brought them a sense of balance in life.
Packard once said that “to remain static is to lose ground.” That is why, in order to stay on top of their game, Hewlett and Packard devoted themselves to creating a new and innovative company. But even more than just the products they created, the company’s ground-breaking management policies and down-to earth style have forever changed the way today’s IT companies go about their business.
Today, HP is still experiencing tremendous growth in revenues and employees. Hewlett and Packard might no longer be at the helm, but their lasting legacy continues to steer the company to success.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 |
Related Articles |
|
 Doing it the HP Way: How Hewlett and Packard Rose to Success
|
| |
 The story of Hewlett and Packard has become legendary throughout Silicon Valley: two guys who started off in a small garage with just a few hundred dollars go on to create the largest IT company in the world. How di...
|
|
Lesson #3: It Takes Guts to Get to Where You Want to Go
|
| |
“We were just opportunistic,” said Hewlett. “We did anything to bring in a nickel. We made a bowling alley foul-line indicator, a clock drive for a telescope, a thing to make a urinal flush automatically, and a shoc...
|
|
The HP Guys: The Early Years of Technology Giants Hewlett and Packard
|
| |
“Here we were with about $500 in capital trying whatever someone thought we might be able to do,” recalled Bill Hewlett. “So we got into this thing not by design but because it worked out that way.”
|
|
Lesson #2: Always Leave the Doors to Innovation Open
|
| |
“I think many people assume, wrongly, that a company exists simply to make money,” said Packard during an HP management training session in 1960. “While this is an important result of a company’s existence, we have ...
|
|
Lesson #1: Practice Management the HP Way
|
| |
“It is important to remember that both Dave and I were products of the Great Depression,” said Hewlett. “We had observed its effects on all sides, and it could not help but influence our decisions on how a company s...
|
|
|
William Hewlett David Packard Newsletter
Get our free newsletter to learn more about William Hewlett David Packard and other famous entrepreneurs!
|
|
|
