Who Says Elephants Can't Dance? by Louis Gerstner Jr.

[DennisK]

Who Says Elephants Can't Dance?
This book is essentially, a memoir of Louis Gerstner's tenure as CEO of IBM during a period in the company's existence where it would either fail and be broken into smaller businesses or evolve into a business that would continue to lead in its industry. Under Gerstner's leadership, IBM made changes that were mostly painful, but necessary if it were to remain viable.
Mr. Gerstner wasn't brought up through the ranks of IBM, rather he was recruited after serving as chief executive of RJR Nabisco. His background was not in technology which was probably an asset, as his perspective was from that of a customer receiving technology. IBM's priorities were introverted to its own needs rather than the needs of its customer's. This is a phenomenon I experienced through the whole of my working years: Here is your system, make your business fit its needs – as apposed to: Let me understand your business so that I can give you a system that supports it.
I felt he did a very good job of writing this book. Reading it, I felt as though I was sitting with him over a few beers – it was a personal account of his experience as IBM's CEO. Most memorable is a metaphor he gave comparing IBM as a large sedate elephant with competitor ants swarming around it. As long as the elephant remained lethargic, the ants are safe, but if that elephant starts to dance, …...
The picture of that in my mind, causes me to laugh out loud. It was an enjoyable read. I give it a 4 out of 4, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in managing a business or anyone curious about how it might feel to work in the upper stratosphere of big business.