IBM
0299 IBM Defamation and Departure
There is – elsewhere - backup to this subject, in the form of various reports and memos. Accordingly, rather than catalogue them on the main summaries, I will link to these other web pages from here:
In the first instance, I put my complaint as part of the ‘speak-up’ which was already under way on the subject of a delay in reviewing of my ‘level’.
The final case, which was prepared in order to justify IBM settling my claim, was:
0211 IBM Constructive Dismissal Claim
In explanation of the above documents, I had always been keen on the new personal computer. I saw it as a way to the future, which of course it was; though eventually not in the way that IBM wanted. Accordingly, when -- at the end of my period running EXHIBIT -- I was headhunted by the industry marketing manager from the PC group, I thought I had it made. The paradox was, though, once more that the job choices I myself made -- which I was very enthusiastic about the time -- nearly always came to grief. This was no exception!
Thus, I got into the PC group, not really knowing my boss, to discover that he was somewhat less dynamic, and much less capable, than he had presented himself as being. Having come from the typewriter part of IBM, he tended to have a quite narrow vision. His group, which was me and a student trainee, was supposed to be working on developing industry approaches for IBM. In this context, I'm not quite certain why my boss had chosen to go after the farming market. This surprised me, since it was not a market that had the expertise or resources to buy large numbers of PCs. Never mind, loyal as ever to IBM, I went out to try and maximise the opportunity.
Thus, I went round the government departments responsible for the industry – without, however, obtaining any of the support I found for Biomedical. I also found some of the emerging software houses that were going to address this market. We had to get into bed with these software vendors if we were going to succeed, for no farmer would buy a PC simply to play with. The problem was that – within days - it became obvious that I was much more competent than my boss. This came to a head when my boss made a silly mistake, which I recovered for him. Unfortunately this was obvious to senior management. He was wont to make such mistakes. Not long afterwards, for example, he arranged for a stand at the Royal show, which was backed up by a glorious picture of a hillside with wheat growing on this; beautifully mixed with red poppies. Unfortunately, he hadn't realized that poppies were not seen as beautiful by farmers, but were seen as weeds!
Whatever the reason, and it must have been something like this since I was only in the group for a matter of a few weeks, one day he came back and brusquely told me I was no longer wanted. What he meant by this was not terribly clear, but he said that it meant that I should urgently clear my desk and go home! The ostensible reason for this was that a serious slander about me had been uttered - probably by him -- at that morning’s PC Group senior management meeting. I still don't know what the exact slander was, but it was certainly very powerful for he was -- apparently -- instructed to get rid of me.
Accordingly, I packed up and went home; and started a slander suit against IBM. IBM handled it very badly, as you will see from the correspondence relating to this. The only person who handled it well was, once more, John Steele -- the Group Personnel Director. Everyone else did almost exactly the wrong thing. On the other hand, John -- every time I saw him -- was calm, collected and helpful. He tried very hard to persuade me to go back to IBM
The problem was that I knew that once I got the sort of reputation attached to me by the slander, then my future in IBM was limited. Moreover, it seemed obvious that, by that time, the IBM was going into a massive downturn -- as of course it soon did -- and that the hunting season would be opened on ‘wild ducks’ like myself. All that happened. It meant, therefore, that I had to get out of IBM no matter how hard John Steele pleaded.
The defamation case dragged on, and I even hired myself not just a solicitor but a defamation counsel as well. Seemingly all counsels always advise their clients to drop the case. I suspect, as the slander was not really defined, that he was probably right. But I was determined to get some redress. In addition I was certain that, at that time (though certainly not later), IBM would not want to make an issue of it.
I was right, in as much has IBM eventually settled for £46,000; equivalent to something like a years salary
This, however still left the with the rest of my life to live.
I was once more on the dole, a not particularly happy experience. There was one good outcome. As one of his parting statements John Steele suggested that I write a book about IBM. I did just that and it was eventually published by Kogan Page It became a big seller in the UK, selling some 11,000 copies. It even was taken by the Japanese. In addition, it was due to do well in the US as well; Business Week were going to do a full page feature on it - and had even taken their photographs for this. Then the US publisher went bust, in the middle of the launch, so I didn't even get my $10,000 of advance royalties there, and it couldn't be relaunched with another publisher!
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