Early Days of HP
What year was Hewlett-Packard (HP) founded?
1939
What was the unique aspect of the HP 200A audio oscillator that set it apart from other audio oscillators?
It was HP’s first major commercial success and helped establish the company.
Which significant business acquisition did HP make in 2011 that shifted the company toward enterprise software solutions?
Autonomy Corporation
What role did David Packard play in the U.S. government after he left HP?
He became involved in national defense, serving as Deputy Secretary of Defense.
In the 1990s, HP expanded into the consumer electronics market with the launch of which portable device, marking a shift toward mobile computing?
HP Jornada (a personal digital assistant or PDA).
Where did David Packard and William Hewlett meet?
Stanford University
Which HP product was known for being "the first portable scientific calculator" in the 1970s?
HP-35
How did HP’s 2002 acquisition of Compaq impact its strategy?
It created a stronger presence in the PC and server markets, allowing HP to compete more effectively with Dell and IBM.
What leadership principle did David Packard introduce that influenced HP’s corporate culture?
The "HP Way" emphasized employee autonomy, respect, and decision-making.
In the early 2000s, HP made a significant shift towards the enterprise market by acquiring which company known for its servers and storage solutions?
Compaq
What was the first product that HP created?
An audio oscillator
What was the significance of HP’s work on the HP 3000 minicomputer in the 1970s?
It was designed for business use, specifically for large-scale computing
What did HP acquire in 2010 to compete against Cisco in the networking market?
3com
What strategic decision did HP make in the 1990s regarding its business approach?
HP split into two companies: HP Inc. for consumer products and Agilent Technologies for test and measurement.
What was the name of HP's product line introduced in the early 2000s that aimed to compete in the high-performance computing and supercomputing markets?
HP Integrity.
David Packard and William Hewlett initially worked out of which building when they first started their business?
The HP Garage in Palo Alto, California
What major innovation did HP release in the 1980s that helped establish the company as a leader in the printing industry?
HP LaserJet printers
What was the main purpose of HP’s HP 3000 minicomputer, introduced in 1972?
It was designed for businesses, not personal use.
What major shift did HP make in the 2000s regarding its operating system strategy?
HP transitioned from Unix-based systems to Linux.
HPE transitioned from a hardware-focused company to a more software and services-oriented business with the spin-off of its software division. What was the name of the resulting company after the spin-off in 2017?
Micro Focus
In the early 1940s, HP was one of the few companies to make what kind of product for military purposes?
A precision signal generator (used for radar testing during World War II)
In 1984, HP introduced the first personal computer to use what kind of processor?
Harris 80C86
Which company did Hewlett-Packard Enterprise acquire in 2017 to enhance its cloud services and edge computing capabilities, complementing its Aruba networking solutions?
Simplivity
What leadership style, introduced by Bill and Dave Hewlett, involved managers regularly interacting with employees to encourage open communication?
Management by Walking Around.
In 2015, HP announced a major restructuring and split into two companies. What were the names of these two new companies, and what were their primary focuses?
Answer: HP Inc. (focused on PCs and printers) and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) (focused on enterprise solutions, software, and cloud computing).