William Lowe, "Father of the Personal Computer," brought his message about open innovation to an overflow audience at Clarion University. Lowe addressed a packed house in Still Hall Auditorium with his presentation sent to an adjoining classroom by close circuit television.
Lowe gained his unofficial title for his role in leading IBM to manufacture computers
with off-the-shelf parts. That move benefited consumers by lowering the cost of computer
purchases and repairs, but at the same time made it easy for IBM's competitors to
make PC clones.
He defined open innovation as, "A new best practice to put together a strategy," something he has put into print in a book "No Nonsense Innovation: Practical Strategies for Success," co-authored with Cary Sherburne. He noted that focusing on innovation is a process developed through the years, and has become a basis for new business and consultations.
Lowe, who has worked for 30 companies during his career, outlined his success factors for innovations for IBM, Xerox, New England Programming Services, Gulfstream Aerospace and others. He provided examples of the, "amazing pace of change," he has experienced in his career.
"I believe the tide of mediocrity has become a major U.S. economic tsunami," he told his audience, after noting the amazing pace of change experienced by companies. "Businesses and companies have changed their impact by using vision and technology."
He went on to explain how pragmatic innovation can boost the bottom line and the innovation footprint of organizations of any size, industry.
An Easton native, Lowe holds a bachelor of science degree in physics from Lafayette College in Easton. He went to work for IBM in 1962 as a product test engineer in Endicott, N.Y. In 1975, he became director of development and manufacturing operations for IBM's General Systems Division in Atlanta, Ga. In 1980, IBM was ready to enter the personal computing market dominated by Apple, Commodore, and Atari, and set a one-year deadline. Lowe convinced the company that in order to meet the deadline it would have to depart from its customary style of building business machines with proprietary parts. The team's approach of using open architecture not only ensured the PC was delivered on schedule but also changed the manufacturing practices of the industry. Lowe also influenced the company's decision to sell its products through retail stores instead of through its own sales force. This was another first in computing history.
In 1991, he and Bill Gates received a major global award for the greatest Technology Product Innovation in United States. In 2001, he was chairman and CEO of Infocast, a company specializing in call center technology and located in Tucson, Ariz. In 2004 Lowe was appointed to the Board of Directors of Universal Guardian Holding, Inc.
Lowe was the speaker for the College of Business Administration's Spring 2010 Reed Lecture Series Speaker. An endowment fund created by Dr. John H. and Barbara Reed established the Reed Lecture Series in the College of Business Administration. Dr. John Reed, a retired Clarion University professor of administrative science, taught from 1971-2001.
The goal of the Reed Lecture Series is to bring to Clarion University speakers such as business and government scholars, business executives, noted business professionals from the disciplines of management, marketing, finance, accounting and economics, legislators, judges and governmental executives for the benefit of students and faculty.
Contributions may be added to the fund at any time. Contact Clarion University Foundation Inc., Center for Advancement, 840 Wood St., Clarion, Pa. 16214, telephone 814-393-2572, or e-mail giving@clarion.edu for additional information.
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