CASE: PROFILE OF TWO VISIONARIES- BILL GATES & STEVJOBS

Two people, who gave their hearts and souls for developing their visions, have driven the
personal computer revolution. However, the way in which each of these men went about this
quest has been different.

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates have changed the way the world does business, but the story of their
Leadership styles are even more compelling than the success spawned Apple and Microsoft.
Gates and Jobs: The Early Years Bill Gates started developing his computer skills with his
childhood friend Paul Allen at Lakeside School in Seattle. At the age of 14, the two had formed
their first computer company. After high school, Allen and Gates left Settle for Boston. Gates
was off to Harvard and Allen began working for Honeywell. After only two years at Harvard,
Gates and gang Allen left Boston for Albuquerque to develop a computer language for the new
Altair 8080 personal computer.

This computer language would become BASIC and was the foundation for Microsoft, which was
created as a partnership in 1975. After five years in New Mexico, Microsoft relocated to
Bellevue, Washington in 1980 with BASIC and two other computer languages (COBOL and
FORTRAN) in its arsenal. Later that year, IBN began developing its first PC and was in need of
an operation system. Microsoft developed the Microsoft Disk Operation System (MS-DOS) for
IBN while two other companies created competing system. Gates determination and persuasion
of other software firms to develop programs for MS-DOS made it the default IBN platform.
As Microsoft became more successful, Gates realized that he needed help managing Microsoft.
His enthusiasm, vision, and hard work were the driving force behind the companys growth, but
he recognized the need for professional management. Gates brought in another one of his friends
from Harvard, Steve Ballmer. Ballmer had worked for Proctor & Gamble after graduating from
Harvard and was pursuing his MBA at Stanford University. Gates persuaded Ballmer to leave
school and join Microsoft. Over the years, Ballmer has become an indispensable asset to both
Gates and Microsoft.

In 1983, gates continued to show his brilliance by hiring Jon Shirley who brought order to
Microsoft and streamlined the organizational structure, while Ballmer served as an advisor and
sounding board for Gates. Microsoft continued to grow and prosper in the 1990s and Gates
became the richest man in the world with Microsoft dominating the operating system market and
the office suite software market with Microsoft Office.

Gates recognized that his role was to be the visionary of the company, but that he needed
Professional managers to run the operations of Microsoft. He combined his unyielding
determination and passion with a well- structured management team to make Microsoft the giant
it is today.

The other visionary, Steve Jobs, and his friend Steve Wosniak started Apple Computer in Jobs
garage in Los Altos, California in 1976. In contrast to bill Gates, Jobs and Wosniak were
hardware experts and started with the vision for a personal computer that was affordable and
easy to use. When Microsoft offered BASIC to Apple, Jobs immediately dismissed the idea on
the basis that he and Wosniak could create their own version of BASIC in a weekend. This was
typical Jobs: decisive and almost maniacal at times. However, Jobs eventually agreed to license
Microsofts BASIC while pursuing his vision of developing a more usable and friendly interface
for the PC.

Jobs, seen by some as the anti- Gates, is a trailblazer and a creator as opposed to Gates who is
More of a consolidator of industry standards. Jobs, whose goal was to change the world with his
Computers, was very demanding of his employees. Jobs were not a hard- core computer
programmer, but he sold the idea of the personal computer to the public. He changed the
direction of Apple by developing the Macintosh (Mac) that used a new Graphical User Interface
(GUI) that introduced the world to the mouse and on- screen icons. With all this success, there
was a major problem developing at Apple: Steve Jobs was overconfident and did not see Gates
and Microsoft as a serious threat to Apple.

Soon after the release of the Macintosh computer, Jobs asked Microsoft to develop software for
the Mac operating system. Gates obliged and proceeded to launch a project copying and
improving Apples user interface. The result of this venture was what Microsoft Windows
became.

Jobs cocky attitude and the lack of management skill contributed to Apples problems. He never
Bothered to develop budgets and neglected his relationship with his employees. Wosniak left
Apple due to differences with Jobs. In 1985, John Scully, formerly CEO of PepsiCo, was hired to
replace Steve Jobs as president and CEO of Apple Computers. Differences between Scully and
Jobs developed which eventually resulted in the dismissal of Jobs.

Microsoft and Apple at the turn of the Century: An Industry Giant and a Revitalized Leader With
the success of Windows, the Office application suite, and the Internet Explore, Microsoft has
become a household name and Bill Gates has been hailed as a business genius. The fact that
Microsofts competitors, the press, and the US Justice Department have called Microsoft a
monopoly reinforces Gates determination to succeed. Some people even questioned whether
Microsoft can survive the Justice Departments decision. But Bill Gates has shown that he is the
master of adapting to changing market conditions and technologies.

In the 1990s, apple went in the opposite direction. The outdated operating system and falling
Market share eventually led to a decrease in software development for the Mac. Something
needed to be done.in1998 Steve jobs returned to apple as the interim CEO. His vision, once
again, result in an innovative product: the iMac. In the 80s he creative the simple-to-operate
Macintosh to attract people who were using IBM PCs and there are clones. Now he developed a
simple, stylish, and internet friendly computer that added some much needed excitement to the
computer market. Jobs had also changed as a manager an a leader. He had matured and looked to
his professional staff for advice and ideas. The Mac is an expression of his creativity and apple
as a whole whole is an expression of Steve, leading to continuing the success for apple and a
renewed battle between Gates and jobs.
Gates and jobs in 2006 bill gates, one of the richest men, has also become one of the biggest
Charitable givers. He and his wife Linda have donated some $31 billion to philanthropic causes.
When BILL gates read the World Development Report by the World Bank, he realized that he
could improve the health of people in poor countries by supplying drugs and treatment. The Bill
and Melinda gates foundation also provides scholarships for students with different background.

While gates is very much in philanthropy, Microsoft is preparing the new windows Vista which
helps users in enhancing their computing experience. Steve jobs career also took some
interesting turns. After he was fired by Scully (the person he hired), he started a company called
next and Pixar, the firm that created the first computer animated feature film. When apple got
into trouble, job was rehired, doing some amazing things. When he was diagnosed with cancer-
which fortunately could be successfully treated-his outlook on life changed.

In 2005 commencement address at Stanford University he said: Because almost everything- all
external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure- these things just fall away in
the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.22 in 2006, jobs can look back at some
great accomplishments. Under his leadership, apple is coming back with exciting new products
such as computers and best selling iPods: the Nano and the video. Now, the pundits are
wondering, what will be Steves next innovation?