Michael Dell (Dell Computer TM) It is known that CEO should make a lot of important decisions. He sets objectives, coordinate work, delegating authority, and just generally leading. Its evident that making careful and right decisions is the basis of good management. It determines all future profits and losses. Thats why the personality of CEO of a company is of great importance. Michael Dell was a CEO of Dell Computer Corporation from 1984 till 2004.
He founded the company in 1984 with $1,000; but his unprecedented ideas played a crucial role in the developing of the company. Michael Dell can be characterized as a creative and talented manager and strategist. Before he became the CEO, he had got an experience running his very first business venture. At the age of 12 he earned $2,000 collecting a commission in sale of stamps. He got a powerful experience of a middleman. Later at the age of 16 he sold newspaper subscriptions to The Houston Post. There were first lessons of market segmentation.
He got information potential customers during conversations and created a personalized letter for high-potential customers. Michael Dell always likes to say that, There’s always an opportunity to make a difference.” (Radosevich, 1997) Michael Dell was a very persevering person. At the age of 18 he decided to compete with IBM; and a year later he left his education and incorporated “Dell Computer Corporation” with initial start-up investment of $1,000. When Michael was 26 he became the youngest CEO of a company. Nowadays, Dell Computer Corporation has sales offices worldwide and about 36,000 employees all over the world. One of the best ideas of Michael Dell that has led to the success was to sell computer systems directly to customers and to build strong relationships with them.
The idea revolutionized the industry. The system of selling directly to consumers was widely advertised in national computer magazines. Following the strategy, each ordered unit were assembled according to a selection of options. It helped reduce prices than those of retail brands. It was a greater convenience than assembling the components themselves. Dell Computer was not the first company that tried to use the model, but it became one of the first to succeed with it.
In 1990, the company took an attempt to sell its products indirectly through warehouse clubs and computer superstores. But the strategy had little success and quickly re-focused on more successful direct-to-consumer sales model. Having examined the way of the company to success, it becomes clear that special skills and personality traits of its CEO played an important role in it. They say that persons words characterized him more than any other means. Michael Dell said that, “If you’re waiting for things to settle down and never change, you’re in the wrong business.” (Radosevich, 1997) It goes without saying that he is clearly focused on tasks. He acted as macro manager and inspired others.
Michael Dell is confident and consistent person. He proved it with all his life. But the best of his traits are the power of passion. He reacted any change in computer industry. He confessed that, “There will be times when people aren’t able to react as quickly as the technology changes. And that creates acrimony.” (Radosevich, 1997) Michael Dell possesses a unique quality to understand perfectly customers’ needs.
He always tries to provide the most effective computing solutions to meet those needs. Nowadays Dell Computer Corporation widely uses the Internet and the telephone network and sells products both to consumers and corporate customers. It has made easier for customers to contact Dell directly. The company new strategy aims to support and encourages customers to educate themselves. Most of all, the company also practices Just In Time inventory management. It has a confidence of success that has its beginning at Michael Dells wonderful and powerful ideas and his great desire to reach success.
Bibliography: Michael Dell. (2006).
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved December 4, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell Radosevich, L. (1997).
Leaders of the Information Age. Michael Dell.
CIO Magazine, September 15, 1997 Retrieved December 4, 2006 from http://www.cio.com/archive/091597/dell.html.