Over the years, the evolution of IBM has seen three distinct models. These include, international model, in which most operations centered in the home country complemented the overseas sales and distribution subsidiaries; multinational model, to access local markets; and now globally integrated enterprise, which is similar to the transnational model. Under the new model, the company is changing its strategy, management, and operations in a truly global way. Based on the right cost, skills and business environment, it locates operations and functions by integrating those operations horizontally and globally.
Against this backdrop, the largest IT services company is emerging as a major global supplier of software and hardware to the corporate world in 170 countries. With two lakh service professionals globally, the world leader in IT services offers services that include data center outsourcing, business transformation services, consulting, systems integration, application management services, infrastructure and system maintenance and Web hosting.
The company reported solid gains in its latest quarterly results as a consequence of the company's strategic shift towards higher-margin software and services. On the whole, the results paint a rosy picture about the dynamic markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC economies). The BRIC market, especially India, is fast becoming IBM's center of gravity. It has become the fastest-growing market with the revenues rising by 40-50% annually. IBM has more employees in India than in any other country other than the US. |
