HP and Compaq's Merger - Thesis Proposal Example

Logbook Introduction From time immemorial, human nature was not to remain ‘static’ but keep on moving throughout their lives to enhance their lives by learning new, new things. That is, a successful person will not like to be “stationed” in one place, but move to uncharted territories and achieve advancement in their lives with the help of good education. Good academic education should start from a good school and ending in a good college. So, to gain excellent academic credentials, the college education is the key, which can open the door for a great career. So, through my course of study, I hope to learn as many things as possible and achieve good growth in my professional life. This exhaustive project as part of my course regarding Hewlett Packard and Compaq merger is providing unlimited knowledge and understanding, and will surely help in coming out of education with flying colors. This knowledge and understanding will help a great deal when I step into the professional world, in search apt job. Background To finish education successfully and to get a dream job or to get career development, the student should be or become equipped with relevant knowledge and skills. That is, the students will be already equipped with certain knowledge and skills, and with their writing assignments as part of the course needs, they will build on those strengths and will get to know newer things, overriding their weaknesses. Strengths will always give ‘lengths’ to reach one’s targets. For me, this writing assignment enriched my knowledge level manifold. Research and study of the relevant materials When this project was assigned to be completed, I started extensive research to find the in-depth details of the topic, the history, current status as well as the future possibilities. To understand the background of both the companies, HP and Compaq and then to understand the processes and happenings that happened inside both the companies that lead to the merger initiative, I started reading and collecting relevant materials from various sources. I carried out the first part of the research part by collecting and browsing around 20 odd sources, including books, journals and websites (which got enlarged to 30 odd sources at the end of the completion of the project). Although, there were quite a few books and journals on this topic of HP-Compaq merger, I was able to get maximum amount of relevant information on the net. When I found and read information on the net, the main thing that ‘stroked’ my mind is, as the merger took place in initial part of the 21st century, when internet was exploding, I was able to get a lot of information with just clicks. That is, internet has a global phenomenon and treasure trove of information and knowledge about various fields particularly about business organizations mainly initiated in 2000’s, and with the merger happening in 2001, it was well covered in many web sources. Among all these web sources, the two web sources, which gave optimum quantity of information regarding the merger including both the pre-merger as well as post-merger scenarios, are gsb.stanford.edu titled Compaq and HP: Ultimately, the Urge to Merge Was Right (http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/news/research/urgetomerge.html) and the one which had the author CL Hoopes, CL titled, The Hewlett-Packard and Compaq Merger: A Case Study in Business Communication (http://www.awpagesociety.com/images/uploads/HP-Compaq-case.pdf). Based on the infos from these two websites, I further expanded the search to corner in on the specific details about certain specific issues. That is, for example, if I need to understand the thinking of Carly Fiorina in going for the merger, I also cross-checked with other websites, to form the consensus ideas and opinion about the topic. When I read and browsed these sources all the intricacies of the HP and Compaq merger as well as the common concepts about change management and merger and acquisitions were understood. I carried out research for this project mainly utlizing the secondary sources, specifically from the outside books, journals and websites authored and maintained by Third persons, and minimally from the company’s websites and books authored by HP and Compaq’s top leaders, employees or the persons who previously worked there. The reason, why I used secondary source method is basically because it is not by choice but by feasibility. That is, I felt it would be difficult or impractical to get inside and first hand information from HP and Compaq itself because of many rules and regulations, Red Tapism, etc. Also, I had an doubt whether they will provide real and truthful information, if it could compromise their functioning or image. I felt that the given information could be biased. So, I felt that the method of using secondary sources will be easy, and importantly it will help in giving a correct, unbiased and optimal analysis of the topic. Importantly, I felt that the different views provided and analyzed in the secondary sources by different authors, experts and thinkers can give different perspectives, and through effective analysis, we can corner on the correct picture. All these sources, which is going to be used in the paper were authored or created by experts and researchers of this field, who will have good experience and expertise about the field as well as the selected topic. With the main and the secondary data comprising of the views and articles outside both HP and Compaq, I was able to form an unbiased and common view of the proceedings. The only primary data, which I think I will use in the paper could be mainly composed of the financial results, sales results and other results of merged HPQ (HP and Compaq combine). These primary data, I think can also be used appropriately to analyze the results of the merger. Thus, the whole reading and analysis of the sources helped me in understanding how HP and Compaq got originated and the external factors which lead both the companies to go for the merger. Personal perspectives On my behalf, I am most proud about the fact that I spent number of weeks on doing actual researches. Then, I formulated an rough draft, based on those researchers. Finally, I came up with the Final Research paper combining and fine tuning all my researches and importantly my own analysis and interpretation of the results. The end result of the paper also made me proud. As an end result, I was able to fulfill a dual purpose. Not only I am on the track to successfully complete the course project, but also understood many of the intricacies of the organizational functioning, which may aid me in my future professional endeavors. Apart from focusing on the content, I also made sure I followed correct citation styles, so it gives the paper a correct backup of external sources and importantly to avoid any plagiarism charges. Harvard citation styles are crucial for giving a structurally correct paper without any plagiarism. My incorporation of apt Harvard styles prevented any plagiarism charges and importantly gave good structure and flow to the paper. As I closely followed each rule of the Harvard citation style for each sources from websites to journals, books, magazines, etc, all the Harvard citation formatting was apt to the paper and elicited good responses from the tutor, who was skeptical first. In the initial period, what I did not do well in my writing was pay attention to details such as; formatting, present a thesis statement that is arguable, and refute many possible opposing positions in composition. Formatting in the sense, in the earlier papers, I missed Harvard citation styles few times, as it was my first exposure to Harvard citation styles. But, I corrected in the subsequent papers, even earning good comments from my tutor. When I formulated the research papers, I formed only a basic thesis, and missed forming an optimally discussable thesis. Also, I tried mainly to argue or discuss about my thesis, without incorporating the opposing point of views. However, I did make up it somewhat. As I was able to think logically and plan out the paper in a logical manner, I was able to come up with apt flow in my paper. With logical thought process, all the needed aspects fell into the place, without any misses and that gave completeness to the paper. Writing has become easier. With continuous writing, my thinking speed as well as my speed to ‘translate’ those thoughts into words, also became continuous and quicker. As the old adage goes, the more you do the easier it becomes, my writing became very easier and I am confident to write more such work. With this knowledge exercise as part of the project report, I gained in-depth understanding on one of the important functions of organization and I think I will be fully equipped to deal with the work environment and all the situations that will arise in my future employer’s place or organization. THE PROJECT LIBRARY These are the print screens of the web sources, which provided optimum information for this project Read More