Louis Gerstner Quotes (18 Quotes)

We would like to have seen more revenue in the quarter, but we were held back by three items, ... First, demand for our microelectronics products -- from both outside customers and internal IBM customers -- far outstripped our ability to supply components. Second, the upcoming release of our new high-end server slowed demand for the System390 family of servers. Finally, parts of our software business slowed unexpectedly in September.

IBM itself is very positive about the recent quarter. We achieved good earnings results despite a number of challenges, ... We have been able to deliver consistent financial results because of the breadth and diversity of our overall business portfolio, which is unmatched in our industry.

The next thing is: we can make IBM even better. We brought IBM back but we're gunning for leadership.

Computers are magnificent tools for the realization of our dreams, but no machine can replace the human spark of spirit, compassion, love, and understanding.

In each instance, Sam has done far more than manage operations effectively, ... He has made it both his personal mission and that of IBM to become the number one competitor in each of these markets. Sam's unique mix of strategic vision, passion and discip

On the positive side, our services revenue grew by nearly 1 billion and this business made a major contribution to the company's earnings. Our software revenues showed good growth and the software gross margin improved for the fifth consecutive quarter,

On a positive note, our services business continued to overtake the Y2K pause that pressured the first half of the year, ... Our PC business rebounded strongly, with particularly good demand for our server and ThinkPad products. In addition, our business in Asia continued to grow strongly.

Our second-quarter results are right in line with our expectations and with the view we've been expressing since last October, ... Essentially, we've had three quarters of slow revenue growth, driven by a combination of the Y2K slowdown and a series of actions we've taken to improve our business portfolio. During that time, however, we have been able to produce satisfactory earnings growth.

As we enter the next phase of IBM's transformation, we need a new organizational approach that will strengthen our focus on both day-to-day marketplace results and future growth opportunities, ... I believe this new structure is the best way to accomplish these goals, under the leadership of two of IBM's most experienced and capable executives.

I would admit to you that we could take some credit, but there's a fair amount of luck in that too,

I think the visit is very important...very important for China and very important for the United States,

In 2001, the company faces concerns that economic softness in the United States could worsen and expand into non-U.S. markets, ... Increasingly aggressive price competition and the potential effects of ongoing adverse currency movements are other areas of volatility.

These results show the ongoing strength of our broad business portfolio, ... We saw very good customer response to our new System390 servers and continuing strength in services and hard disk drives.

This was a solid quarter, with earnings per share up 20 percent and an acceleration of revenue growth relative to the first half of the year,

Services is clearly the largest and fastest-growing portion of the information technology industry, and we continue to extend our leadership position each quarter, ... Our software business continues to gain momentum.

Business conditions remain difficult as we enter the new year, although we believe that our business will strengthen as we move through the year,

we are facing a number of significant short-term issues, including an uncertain global economic environment, ongoing weakness in some parts of Asia and Latin America, and continued price pressures in semi conductors.

Results from these areas more than offset revenue declines in some other segments, most notably our consumer PC business