LONGEVITY AND CORPORATE ECOSYSTEMS: HOW DID IBM EXIST FOR OVER A CENTURY?

Abstract

How firms have been able to exist for many decades, or more, has been the subject of much
controversy. This article explores the circumstances that made it possible for IBM to last for
over a century. It argues that a corporate culture created early in life led to many behaviors
that made longevity possible. These include a constant stream of new products, product
development and marketing initiatives that leveraged scale, scope, and distribution, as well
as personnel practices that reinforced such behavior. IBM’s long-term strategic intentions and
the way its employees went about their work are also considered to be crucial elements in
understanding the firm’s longevity