IBM basics

IBM is a company of 380,000 individuals who do, in new ways, what IBMers have done for nearly a century: invent technology and apply it to business and society on a global scale, to make the world work better. Today, we create and integrate hardware, software and services to enable enterprises, institutions and forward-thinkers around the world to succeed.

Business Priorities and Strategy

Every two years, IBM conducts a survey of CEOs and other leaders around the world, to assess what is most important to them. In the most recent survey, more than 1,100 CEOs worldwide assessed the impact of the rise of the integrated global economy. Eight out of 10 said they foresee significant changes to their industries and business models in the near term — and plan to respond to them with bold measures.

Several factors are driving these changes:

The integration of global economies, the rapid growth in new markets and the widespread emergence of new skills
A new computing model for business based on open flexible systems
The need for organizations to use technology to be more innovative in their processes, business models and management systems

At IBM, we’re working with our clients to develop new business designs and technical architectures to compete in this new environment — addressing their needs through three strategic priorities:

Focusing on open technologies and high-value solutions such as virtualization, high performance chips, modular and open IT and service orientated architecture (SOA)
Delivering integration and innovation to clients by transforming their business operations and improving profitability
Becoming the premier globally integrated enterprise by investing in emerging markets and replacing vertical hierarchies with horizontally integrated teams

Markets of Operation

A globally integrated enterprise, IBM operates in more than 170 countries and enjoys an increasingly broad-based distribution of revenue, grouping markets by common growth characteristics, not location.

Our 2007 revenue increased by 26 percent in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and by more than 10 percent in over 50 markets, including Czech Republic, Mexico, Egypt, Vietnam, Poland, Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa.

Technology Leadership

In 2007, for the 15th consecutive year, IBM was issued more U.S. patents (3,125) than any other company.

In the last five years IBM has aggressively complemented an investment of $29 billion in research and development with more than 60 acquisitions of hardware, services and software companies.

Major Operations

Our Values

Since its inception, IBM has been a company that defines itself by fundamental values — not by products, technologies or leaders. Today, shared values are more essential than ever before — for enterprises, for individuals and for the globally integrating society of the 21st century. In 2003, IBMers worldwide came together to renew and define our core values, which now serve as the foundation of IBM's culture and brand and the guide for each IBMer’s work, decisions and relationships.