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Conference 7.286::digital

Title:The Digital way of working
Moderator:QUARK::LIONELON
Created:Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5321
Total number of notes:139771

2336.0. "IBM: worst performance in US history" by BOOKS::HAMILTON (All models are false; some are useful - Dr. G. Box) Wed Jan 20 1993 14:23

    
    I read this morning over coffee that IBM just recorded the
    worst corporate performance in US history: worse than GM
    or AT&T at their respective worst.
    
    The company reported a loss of 5 billion dollars, and if
    it wasn't for a favorable accounting change, it would have
    been 6.87 billion.  Further, it recorded its first ever
    quarterly operating loss.
    
    I'm sure the moderators would like me to justify this note
    in the DIGITAL conference, so my question is: can Digital
    benefit from IBM's troubles?  If so, how?
    
    What company will be the new bellwether?  Digital, as was
    speculated a year or so ago?  Microsoft?  Intel?
    
    Glenn
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2336.1RT128::BATESNAS-ty BoyWed Jan 20 1993 14:55346
============================================================================
SUBJECT:  IBM ANNOUNCES 1992 FINANCIAL RESULTS
SOURCE:   PR Newswire via First! by INDIVIDUAL, Inc.
DATE:     January 19, 1993
INDEX:    [1]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

  ARMONK, N.Y., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ via First! -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today
reported preliminary worldwide financial results for 1992.  IBM's revenue
and earnings declined in the fourth quarter and full year compared with the
same periods of 1991.

  IBM Chairman John F. Akers said, "Our financial results are not acceptable
to us or our shareholders.  We are taking aggressive actions to improve our
competitiveness and profitability by addressing the accelerating changes
that are sweeping our industry, while adjusting for weakened business
conditions throughout the world.  These actions include reallocating
resources to growth businesses, increasing the autonomy of our businesses,
and reducing costs."

  Mr. Akers emphasized that the company's strategy is based on:

  -- Intensifying the focus on key growth areas.  The company's
manufacturing and development businesses have increased their focus on
clearly defined product segments.  IBM continues to increase investment in
growth areas such as client-server computing, networking, RISC technology
and multimedia, which will keep IBM at the forefront of technological
development in these and other markets.  IBM's marketing and services units
are dedicating additional resources to a broad range of growth areas,
including consulting, systems integration, and services.  IBM's revenue from
sources other than hardware sales amounted to about 48 percent of total
revenues in 1992 compared with approximately 43 percent in 1991.

  -- Encouraging the autonomy of individual business units.  IBM's creation
of increasingly independent business units has allowed for greater
flexibility in pursuing market opportunities and in meeting quality and
customer satisfaction objectives.  For example, the IBM Personal Computer
Company, which gained additional operating autonomy last fall, introduced a
fully revamped product line and shipped more units worldwide in the fourth
quarter than in any previous quarter in IBM's history.

  -- Further reducing costs.  IBM reduced its work force by more than 40,000
employees in 1992.  Through 1992, IBM has trimmed its work force by more
than 100,000 since 1986 -- eliminating layers of management, reducing
support staff, and moving more people into revenue-producing jobs.  These
efforts have led to a reduction in IBM's operating expenses.  The company
recently announced plans for additional work force reductions of about
25,000 in 1993.  Capacity reductions for 1993, primarily in businesses
related to large systems, will result in a better balance between
manufacturing capacity and marketplace demand.

  Mr. Akers said, "Difficult problems remain ahead for IBM, including the
continued pace of change in our industry and weak worldwide business
environments.  Nevertheless, we are confident that we are on the right path
and our efforts to redirect our resources to growth opportunities, unleash
our business units, and continue our restructuring will produce a more
competitive and successful IBM."

  IBM's 1992 earnings include charges for capacity and work force reduction
actions that amount to $11.6 billion, before taxes, in the year and $7.2
billion, before taxes, in the fourth quarter.  In 1991, restructuring
charges of $3.7 billion, before taxes, were taken.

  Worldwide revenue for the year ended Dec. 31, 1992, was $64.52 billion,
down .4 percent from the prior year's $64.77 billion. Worldwide net earnings
before capacity and work force reduction charges and the cumulative effect
of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS 109), "Accounting for
Income Taxes," were $1.42 billion ($2.48 per share).  After the effect of
charges taken in both years, but before the cumulative effect of the
adoption of accounting changes taken in 1992 and 1991, net earnings were
negative $6.87 billion ($12.03 per share) in 1992, compared with negative
$598 million ($1.05 per share) in 1991. After the cumulative effects of the
adoption of accounting changes, net earnings in 1992 were negative $4.97
billion ($8.70 per share) compared with negative $2.86 billion ($5.01 per
share) in 1991.  Average shares outstanding were 570.9 million in 1992 and
572.0 million in 1991.

  For the quarter ended Dec. 31, 1992, worldwide revenue was $19.56 billion,
an 11.0 percent decrease compared with $21.97 billion for the fourth quarter
of 1991.  Net earnings without the effect of the capacity and work force
reduction charges would have been negative $45 million ($.08 per share).
With the effect of the charges, net earnings were negative $5.46 billion
($9.57 per share).  Fourth-quarter 1991 net earnings, after restructuring
charges, were negative $1.46 billion ($2.55 per share).

  Revenue from non-U.S. operations in 1992, included in the consolidated
results, was $39.89 billion, a decline of 1.1 percent from $40.34 billion in
1991.  Non-U.S. net earnings after the effects of restructuring charges,
taxes, and the cumulative effects of the adoption of accounting changes were
negative $560 million in 1992 compared with $1.79 billion in 1991.

             INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION
             Comparative Preliminary Financial Results
              (In millions except per-share amounts)

    Periods ended                        Twelve months     Percent
     Dec. 31                                               Increase
                                        1992      1991(B)  (Decrease)
    Revenue:
      Sales                          $ 33,755    $ 37,093     (9.0)
      Software                         11,103      10,498      5.8
      Maintenance                       7,635       7,414      3.0
      Services                          7,352       5,582     31.7
      Rentals and financing             4,678       4,179     11.9

                                       64,523      64,766     (0.4)

    Costs and expenses(C)              72,762      63,827     14.0
    Operating income                   (8,239)        939      --
    Other income                          573         602     (4.9)
    Interest expense                    1,360       1,423     (4.4)
    Earnings before income taxes       (9,026)        118      --
    Provision for income taxes         (2,161)        716      --
    Earnings before effect of
    changes in accounting
    principles                         (6,865)       (598)     --
    Effect of changes in
    accounting principles*              1,900      (2,263)     --
    Net earnings                     $ (4,965)   $ (2,861)     --

    Per-share amounts:
      Before effect of changes
      in accounting principles       $ (12.03)   $  (1.05)     --
      Effect of changes in
      accounting principles*             3.33       (3.96)     --
      Net earnings                   $  (8.70)   $  (5.01)     --
      Average number of
        shares outstanding              570.9       572.0

  (A) 1992 cumulative effect of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(SFAS) 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," and 1991 transition effect of
SFAS 106, "Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than
Pensions."

  (B) Results in 1991 have been restated for the AICPA Statement of
Position, "Software Revenue Recognition."

  (C) Results in 1992 and 1991 include $11.6 billion and $3.7 billion,
before taxes, respectively, for capacity and work force reduction actions.

              INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
               Comparative Preliminary Financial Results
                 (In millions except per-share amounts)

    Periods ended                         Three months     Percent
     Dec. 31                                               Increase
                                        1992      1991(A)  (Decrease)
    Revenue:
      Sales                          $ 10,966    $ 13,718    (20.1)
      Software                          3,189       3,254     (2.0)
      Maintenance                       1,903       1,913     (0.5)
      Services                          2,396       2,049     17.0
      Rentals and financing             1,106       1,034      7.0
                                       19,560      21,968    (11.0)

    Costs and expenses(B)              26,315      23,065     14.1
    Operating income                   (6,755)     (1,097)     --
    Other income                          171         178     (4.6)
    Interest expense                      364         448    (18.5)
    Earnings before income taxes       (6,948)     (1,367)     --
    Provision for income taxes         (1,485)         90      --

    Net earnings                     $ (5,463)   $ (1,457)     --
      Per-share                      $  (9.57)   $  (2.55)     --

      Average number of
        shares outstanding              570.9       571.6

  (A) Results in 1991 have been restated for the AICPA Statement of
Position, "Software Revenue Recognition."

  (B) Results in 1992 and 1991 include $7.2 billion and $3.4 billion, before
taxes, respectively, for capacity and work force reduction actions.

              INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
                           Revenue - Earnings
                 (In millions except per-share amounts)

                                                      Percent
                                                      Increase
                           1992(B)         1991(A)    (Decrease)
    Revenue
       1st Quarter      $ 14,037        $ 13,587          3.3
       2nd Quarter        16,224          14,764          9.9
         6 Months         30,261          28,351          6.7
       3rd Quarter        14,702          14,447          1.8
         9 Months         44,963          42,798          5.1
       4th Quarter        19,560          21,968        (11.0)
         Year             64,523          64,766         (0.4)

    Earnings Before
      Income Taxes
       1st Quarter           991             927          6.9
       2nd Quarter         1,217             237        413.8
         6 Months          2,208           1,164         89.7
       3rd Quarter        (4,286)            321          --
         9 Months         (2,078)          1,485          --
       4th Quarter        (6,948)         (1,367)         --
         Year             (9,026)            118          --

    Net Earnings
       1st Quarter         2,542          (1,707)         --
       2nd Quarter           734             126        483.1
         6 Months          3,276          (1,581)         --
       3rd Quarter        (2,778)            177          --
         9 Months            498          (1,404)         --
       4th Quarter        (5,463)         (1,457)         --
         Year             (4,965)         (2,861)         --

    Earnings-Per-Share
       1st Quarter      $   4.45        $  (2.99)         --
       2nd Quarter          1.29             .22        486.4
         6 Months           5.74           (2.77)         --
       3rd Quarter         (4.87)            .31          --
         9 Months            .87           (2.46)         --
       4th Quarter         (9.57)          (2.55)         --
         Year              (8.70)          (5.01)         --

  (A) First quarter and year-to-date net earnings and EPS reflect the effect
of the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 106,
"Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions."
Results include charges for work force reduction actions. Results have been
restated for the AICPA Statement of Position, "Software Revenue
Recognition."

  (B) First quarter and year-to-date results reflect the effect of the
adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 109, "Accounting for
Income Taxes."  Third-quarter results include charges of $4.4 billion before
taxes and fourth-quarter results include charges of $7.2 billion before
taxes, both for capacity and work force reduction actions.

  INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

  Supplemental schedule of 1992 preliminary financial results before and
after effects of capacity and work force reduction charges and one- time
effect of change in accounting principle:

    Periods ended                            Twelve months
     Dec. 31, 1992             (In millions except per-share amounts)
                                       Before                Total
                                       Special    Special    As
                                       Actions    Actions    Reported
    Revenue:
      Sales                           $ 33,755   $          $ 33,755
      Software                          11,103                11,103
      Maintenance                        7,635                 7,635
      Services                           7,352                 7,352
      Rentals and financing              4,678                 4,678
          TOTAL                         64,523                64,523

    Costs and expenses                  61,117     11,645     72,762
    Operating income                     3,406    (11,645)    (8,239)
    Other income                           573                   573
    Interest expense                     1,360                 1,360
    Earnings before income taxes         2,619    (11,645)    (9,026)
    Provision for income taxes           1,202     (3,363)    (2,161)

    Earnings before effect of
    change in accounting
    principle                            1,417     (8,282)    (6,865)

    Effect of change in
    accounting principle                   --       1,900      1,900

    Net earnings                      $  1,417   $ (6,382)  $ (4,965)

    Per-share amounts:
      Before effect of change
      in accounting principle         $   2.48   $ (14.51)  $ (12.03)

      Effect of change in
      accounting principle                 --        3.33       3.33

      Net earnings                    $   2.48   $ (11.18)  $  (8.70)

      Average number of
        shares outstanding               570.9      570.9      570.9

                   INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
                      (In millions except per-share amounts)

    Supplemental schedule of 1992 preliminary financial results
    before and after effects of capacity and work force reduction
    charges:

    Periods ended                       Three months
     Dec. 31, 1992
                                       Before                Total
                                       Special    Special    As























                                       Actions    Actions    Report

ed
    Revenue:
      Sales                           $ 10,966   $          $ 10,966
      Software                           3,189                 3,189
      Maintenance                        1,903                 1,903
      Services                           2,396                 2,396
      Rentals and financing              1,106                 1,106

                                        19,560                19,560

    Costs and expenses     $            19,102      7,213     26,315
    Operating income                       458     (7,213)    (6,755)

    Other income                           171                   171
    Interest expense                       364                   364

    Earnings before income taxes           265     (7,213)    (6,948)

    Provision for income taxes             310     (1,795)    (1,485)

    Net earnings                      $   (45)   $ (5,418)  $ (5,463)

      Per-share                       $  (.08)   $  (9.49)  $  (9.57)

      Average number of
        shares outstanding               570.9      570.9      570.9

  /CONTACT:  Rob Wilson of IBM, 914-765-6565/ (IBM)

[01-19-93 at 09:20 EST,  PR Newswire, File: p0119092.300]

    
2336.2he's a gonerFROZEN::CHERSONthe door goes on the rightWed Jan 20 1993 23:015
    IMHO, Akers will not last by year's end.  And I think that IBM's
    experience has a lot of corollaries to ours, and is very much worth
    discussion.
    
    /d.c. 
2336.3KAOT01::M_MORINLe diable est aux vaches!Thu Jan 21 1993 13:205
I would see a $3B decrease in Sales (hardware?) for the last quarter as a very
alarming stat.

/Mario
2336.4If Ken got whacked, Akers doesn't have a chanceLACGID::BIAZZOHow low can we go?Thu Jan 21 1993 13:4913
re -1

I'd be surprised if Akers makes it more than a couple of weeks.  

As lethargic as our results have been we have still shown increasing 
revenues.  IBM revenues have shrunk markedly. Huge losses compounded with 
falling sales is going to mean heads.  

GM's CEO went, DEC's CEO went, plus a couple other CEOs here and there.

IBM stockholders will tolerate nothing less.

JB
2336.5Fortune on AkersBOOKS::HAMILTONAll models are false; some are useful - Dr. G. BoxThu Jan 21 1993 17:2114
    
    re: .4
    
    A couple of weeks ago, Fortune magazine did a spread on the
    fall of the American CEO.  Ken was mentioned, and Akers
    rated a full article on his troubles. Reading between
    the lines, it was pretty obvious he's on his way (if
    you believe Fortune).
    
    They had a funny sidebar for boards of directors on "how to 
    organize a palace coup". They suggested the Kruschev approach 
    (make him go on vacation, then dump him while he's gone).
    
    Glenn 
2336.6... but I digressCSC32::D_RODRIGUEZMidnight Falcon ...Fri Jan 22 1993 21:0822
I believe there was an article that was scheduled to be released by the 
Harvard Business Journal, a well-regarded business publication, not too long
ago (1-2 months) titled: Why I
BM Failed.

Just before it went out, it was pulled from the publication.  The publisher
cited inaccuracies with the article.  The author backed up his story (interview
on CNN, I believe).  I guess we'll never know....

People speculate that the strong ties between HBJ, the Harvard Business School,
and IBM caused the pulling of the article, regardless of content.

They displayed the front page of either the article or the magazine as it was
to be published.  It had in big bold letters: 

				   WHY
                                   ___
				  FAILED

(The IBM logo had obviously been removed.)

I'm sure if the article had gone out, it would have had a definite effect 
on the perception of the company.
2336.7Never thought it would happenCOOKIE::SAMPLEFri Jan 22 1993 21:091
Now we can all personnaly say "I made more money than IBM last year"
2336.8GRANMA::MWANNEMACHERA new day has dawnedMon Jan 25 1993 11:407
    
    But IBM is still one of the top 100 companies to wrk for according to 
    a book written by Robert Levering and Milton Moskowitz.  There is an
    article in USA Weekend about the book.
    
    
    Mike
2336.9Did not loose as much as IBM last year!TALLIS::JCAGE::perkinsMon Jan 25 1993 18:505
Hopefully most of us can also say that we did not personally
loose as much money as IBM did last year!

-- Eric

2336.10Loot On EarthMU::PORTERsavage pencilTue Jan 26 1993 00:543
    What happened to the money that was loosed?  Did it manage to
    revert to its natural behaviour in the wild, or had too many
    years in captivity made it unable to survive?
2336.11CX3PT1::CODE3::BANKSWed Jan 27 1993 15:448
Re:        <<< Note 2336.4 by LACGID::BIAZZO "How low can we go?" >>>

>I'd be surprised if Akers makes it more than a couple of weeks.  

Well, you don't have to be surprised.  I read in the paper this morning that 
it's been announced that Akers is history.

-  David
2336.12Yup.28937::MITCHAMAndy in Alpharetta (near Atlanta)Wed Jan 27 1993 16:125
Apparently, Akers recommended to the board of directors that they begin the
process of selecting a new chief executive officer.  He will remain charman
and CEO during the selection process which is expected to be approx. 90 days.

-Andy
2336.13I'm a Better Marketeer LACGID::BIAZZOHow low can we go?Wed Jan 27 1993 20:336
Yeah right, his recommendation!  IBM and its incessant marketing.  

Translation:

	I'll step aside if you pay me off!

2336.14STIMPY::QUODLINGWed Jan 27 1993 21:244
    Hey, theres a nice retirement job for KO...
    
    q