Publications
Publications
- June 2017
- HBS Case Collection
IBM Transforming, 2012–2016: Ginni Rometty Steers Watson
By: Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Jonathan Cohen
Abstract
Ginni Rometty, who became IBM CEO in 2012, led efforts to transform the company around cognitive computing and the AI platform Watson. This Teaching Note helps instructors understand and teach the Harvard Business School case “IBM Transforming, 2012–2016: Ginni Rometty Steers Watson,” which examines Rometty’s leadership of systemic change at a large company confronted with significant strategic, operational, and cultural challenges. Lessons include how to improvise and find the best business strategy in uncertain times, how to manage internal tensions between mainstream businesses and newer ventures, ways to orient and align organizational elements to meet new business goals, when and how to use hard and soft power as a leader, and what role a CEO can play in the large-scale transformation of a big company.
Keywords
Digital; Technological Change; Artificial Intelligence; Data; IBM; Watson; Internet Of Things; Innovation and Invention; Management; Sales; Technology; Technological Innovation; Transformation
Citation
Kanter, Rosabeth Moss, and Jonathan Cohen. "IBM Transforming, 2012–2016: Ginni Rometty Steers Watson." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 317-126, June 2017.
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