The IBM archipelago

Remember the IBM of old? Homogenous corporate culture, even down to dress code.  In recent years, I have had a growing sense IBM has become a series of islands as I get PR from a wide range of its hardware, software and services, and often vertical market units. In a number of ways, decentralized business units are great for customers – they are closest to the markets they are dealing with. Indeed, I had lunch recently with the CEO of a financial services industry software vendor and he was complimenting the quality of IBM personnel in that vertical.

But IBM is increasingly marketing complex, Polymath like solutions which cut across many of its products – and those of many partners.  Bob Warfield writes about the promise of IBM’s Watson in future business analytics  It’s exciting not just for IBM just like its Deep Blue’s prowess at chess was something the tech industry celebrated. But as I saw some commercials this weekend where IBM is already touting Watson, I wondered which part of IBM will bring something packaged and coherent around Watson to the enterprise market? Or will it be a series of individual projects like many of its Smart Planet projects have been to date?

IBM helps a number of customers with integrations. Its Cast Iron and other software integrate countless applications.  Be nice for it to showcase its “internal integrators” which build bridges across its wide expanse of home grown, acquired and friendly partner “islands”