Listen up, merger maniacs. If Microsoft's
No, computing titan Hewlett-Packard
Our faithful CAPS players have already started to weigh in on the deal, with opinions ranging from "a great opportunity" to jump into the high-margin services market with both feet to "EDS is crap, and H-P is overpaying."
Others worry that the merger will run into culture clashes of the kind that turned Carly Fiorina's infamous takeover of Compaq into more of a disaster than a kingmaking moment, eventually costing Carly her job. But HP is taking steps to avoid repeating that mistake by keeping the EDS division separated from HP proper, and maintaining its Texas headquarters and its old CEO.
I think that's smart management of a tricky situation. It's easy to come up with examples of other megamergers that could have used a lighter touch, and this approach could serve as a model for other presumptive acquirers. Someday, EDS may act and feel like a proper HP component, but until then, it's best to let the components get used to each other from afar.
Further Foolishness: