Who Is Bill Gates - Assignment Example

Who is Bill Gates Bill Gates was born in Seattle on 28th October 1955. He is a son of an attorney who also teaches in a school. In the age of 17, Bill Gates sold out his first computer program that was a timetable system to a school for worth $ 4200. While studying in Harvard, he wrote the first computer language program along with Paul Allen, who was his friend. Both of them founded Microsoft in 1975, and after one year, Gates left out Harvard to run Microsoft and in 1986, the organization was storming upwards with a $ 61 million turnover (Jones 2006). Bill Gates, who is considered the architect of Microsoft, stands in the top twenty richest people in the world with assets of over $ 56 Billion (THE TOP 20. (cover story). 2011). Previously, bill gates was on top of the list for richest people in world, he lost the spot because he generously donated $ 28 billion for Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest private endowment fund in the world (Gates gives away title of worlds richest man. 2011). Moreover, he and Melinda Gates Foundation also donated $5 million to OCLC for enhancing and improving a public information campaign that is designed to upsurge library support. The library will test material including advertising, direct marketing, and grassroots initiatives-will be made available next year to the library community at large (Oder, Albanese et al. 2009). Currently Bill gates have resigned from Microsoft but he is still the chairman of the board of directors. There is no doubt that bill gates has led Microsoft to be one of the most successful technology based organization in history, as Microsoft products interacts with each of us in any way or the other in this modern era. Likewise, Bill Gates is also considered to be ‘lucky’, as both Gates and Paul Allen established Microsoft in 1975 (Cusumano 2009). The main purpose was to develop a programming language for a desktop computer that was not yet available in the markets. Moreover, Gates was successful in achieving a contract from IBM in 1980 – 1981 to construct the code for Disk Operating System (DOS) (Cusumano 2009). However, bill gates violated the contracted because he was not an expert of making operating systems and IBM at that time was not expert either for making an efficient operating system including processor architecture and design. However, the processor architecture and design was managed by Intel. Moreover, Gates proficiency can be defined as a professional and cunning hacker with infinite or little management skills (Cusumano 2009). The success of Microsoft was includes its growing marketing strength that emerged from DOS that later on converted to Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office dominations. Impact on the Industry Bill gates was practically knowledgeable and was the visionary boss who can clearly see the upcoming technological landscape. He was the legendary thinker who maintained a flat organization structure in the organization. Moreover, over recent years, his organization and direction identifying the next moves for the production teams has not only moved Microsoft to the top but kept it there. Dave Duffield, who is the CEO of PeopleSoft Inc., which is the leading software house for constructing enterprise application software, says “I think hes got to be the worlds best visionary businessman” (Bartholomew 1996). Moreover, his proven tactics recognized corporate guidance that can transform an organization in an industry has impressed the editors of INDUSTRY WEEK and they have named Bill Gates the ‘technology leader of the year’ (Bartholomew 1996). Likewise, by the inspiration and guidance of Paul Allen, Gates become founder of one of the world’s largest software company. In an interview, Gates spoke few lines for Paul Allen, he says, “When we were teenagers, Paul Allen taught me a lot about computer hardware and encouraged me to believe in--and bet on--the microprocessor” (Bartholomew 1996). He further said “I was lucky enough, at a young age, to discover something that I loved and that fascinated me--and still fascinates me. And I was lucky to have parents who motivated and encouraged me.” (Bartholomew 1996) Greatest Achievements These achievements will highlight the revolutionary decisions and good fortune of Bill Gates throughout his career from the initial stages of his career until the revolution of Microsoft Windows hits home based computing. Four different domains are demonstrated including career highlights with Paul Allen. These domains are Home Computing, Introduction of an operating system and launching Windows 95. Home Computing Gates interference started in the late 1960’s, when he started studying BASIC programming language with his classmate Paul Allen. Likewise, BASIC was relatively easy for the beginners and can cope with up enhance functionalities when coded by advanced programmers. Likewise, BASIC was released in 1963 but was unable to make an impression until Gates and Allen produced a version for Altair 8800. However, in 1975, the code was sold out to MITS for $ 3000. Therefore, BASIC was launched in 1980’s with IBM computer, Commodore VIC 20, Apple II and BBC Micro. Introduction of an Operating System As Microsoft was founded in 1976, in the year 1980, there was an agreement between Microsoft and IBM for producing operating systems that will run on the upcoming IBM personal computer. Likewise, Microsoft took a decision of purchasing DOS 86 from Seattle Computer Products. DOS 86 was a disk operating system that was compatible to run with 8086 based computers. This was the first time when a computer was launched with an operating system named as PC-DOS. Later, Microsoft imposed its name to system developers as MS DOS. Launching Windows 95 The next major step forward for Microsoft was the introduction of Microsoft Windows 95. Likewise, Win95 was a replacement of MS-DOS in a graphical user interface including multi-tasking features, GUI and plug and play devices. There features were considered as revolutionary in that time period. Therefore, even today, Microsoft Windows still remains a major product from Microsoft. Many versions of Windows available now including both server side and client side application software. References THE TOP 20. (cover story). 2011. Forbes, 187(5), pp. 42-45. Gates gives away title of worlds richest man. 2011. Australian, The, , pp. 3-3. CUSUMANO, M., 2009. Technology Strategy and Management: The Legacy of Bill Gates. Communications of the ACM, 52(1), pp. 25-26. BARTHOLOMEW, D., 1996. Bill Gates envisions the enterprise. Industry Week/IW, 245(23), pp. 8. JONES, D., 2006. A global success story. New Statesman, 135(4793), pp. 28-28. ODER, N., ALBANESE, A. and HADRO, J., 2009. Gates Gives Oclc $5m for Library Support Project. Library Journal, 134(8), pp. 12-12. Read More