Hewlett and Packard (HP) is an American technology company that provides technology services to large enterprises, individual customers, and small and large businesses. It is the leading manufacturer of personal computers and associated accessories in the world.
It has experienced tumultuous times in past years that have affected it adversely. However, it has changed its strategy and is pursuing reinvention strategies and initiatives. It is currently engaging in several projects and initiatives that will steer it back to prosperity in different field away from manufacture of computers. These initiatives include high-impact research, acquisition of Autonomy, a British software company, cloud services, corporate strategic overhaul, and management change.
HP has increased its efforts of doing research in order to find solutions to problems facing the technology industry. As a result, they have established research labs in seven different locations around the globe. The labs will focus research on eight areas that are central to technology.
These include information management, content transformation, cloud, digital commercial print, intelligent infrastructure, analytics, sustainability, and immersive interaction. The main objective of the project is to shift its focus to cloud computing and EaaS, which are key areas of emerging technologies.
HP has also acquired Autonomy, a British software company. The acquisition has brought wrangles in the corporation leading to exit of the chairman, Raymond Lane. The main objective of acquiring the company is to diversify their service delivery to focus mostly on software development and compete with other software development companies. HP intends to exit the personal computer market and explore the more profitable software market. This is in an effort to reinvent the company after many years of failed business operations.
Recently, HP announced its corporate and strategic overhaul plan that had an adverse effect on its share price. The overhaul is intended to push HP into profitable market segments such as software, connectivity, and cloud services.
Their strategy includes doing away with its Webos mobile devices and exiting the PC market that is not as profitable as it was in past decades. Its Webos devices include the Veer Smartphone and the Touchpad tablet. In addition, it is looking for alternatives to its Personal Systems Group (PSG). This might include separating operations of PSG form those of HP.
Another recent HP initiative is exploration of cloud services. HP has devised ways to provide cloud services to enterprises, consumers, and small and medium sized businesses. It has developed customized cloud services for each of the three groups of consumers.
Services offered to each group offers solutions to problems that present challenges in the modern world where technology is an important aspect of achieving goals and objectives. The initiative’s main objective is to revamp HP’s service business in order to guarantee stability and high profit margins. This is a positive move because cloud services are under high demand and HP could seize the opportunity to reinvent itself.
HP has also elected a new interim chairman, Ralph Whitworth after exit of Raymond Lane. He left after fallout with the corporation’s top management regarding acquisition of Autonomy Corporation. This move is an effort by the management of the corporation to avoid cases of past wrangles that cost it dearly. The new interim chairman has been serving at HP in the capacity of Board member for approximately two years. Lane said that he stepped down because he did not want to disrupt HP’s reinvention efforts.
The new interim chairman is known for reviving failed corporations by introducing change. The election of Whitworth is a move towards adopting leadership that embraces change, a factor that is synonymous with their recent initiatives and corporate overhaul strategy.