Appropriation and Independence: BTM,Burroughs, and IBM at the Advent of the Computer Industry

Comparisons between the early British and US computer industries invariably have focused on the differential development of the British Tabulating Machine Company (BTM) and IBM. In this article, the author seeks to refocus examination of BTM (and comparisons of it to IBM) within the context of an Am...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE annals of the history of computing 2013-10, Vol.35 (4), p.5-17
Main Author: Yost, Jeffrey R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquisitions & mergers
British Tabulating Machine Company
BTM
Burroughs
Business
business machinery
Companies
Comparative analysis
Computer industry
Consumer electronics
history of business computing
history of computing
IBM
Joint ventures
Marketing and sales
R&D
Research & development
Studies
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Comparisons between the early British and US computer industries invariably have focused on the differential development of the British Tabulating Machine Company (BTM) and IBM. In this article, the author seeks to refocus examination of BTM (and comparisons of it to IBM) within the context of an American competitor somewhat similar in size, customer base, and organizational capabilities in electronics to BTM: Burroughs Corporation. The cases of BTM and Burroughs demonstrate the complexity of coordinating international R&D joint ventures, the struggle to create advanced products in an emerging technology while preserving existing revenue streams, and the cultural and technical hurdles involved in assimilating R&D resources from acquisitions in a rapidly changing technologically based industry.
ISSN:1058-6180
1934-1547
DOI:10.1109/MAHC.2013.32