Doug Glading -- Memories of IBM

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recent revision:7 Feb 2011}

Main Page -- Summary.

I worked for IBM UK for quite a long time. I basically enjoyed it; I found it interesting, absorbing, sometimes difficult, but overall something to look back on with some satisfaction.
It was great to be near the forefront of a lot of new things. Lots of leading (and bleeding) edge early use!!
And, I guess most of all, it was a pleasure to meet and work with so many lovely people. From many different countries.
Especially early on there was a great comradeship - everybody helped everybody. And it seemed a great place to work. Not atall like the IBM of today I'm most sorry to say.

1960's

Why I joined IBM
Trainee Sysytems Engineer / Basic Class B48
Birmingham Branch / Punched Card Systems / IBM 870 / 40-column punched cards, then 80, 421's etc.
What did an 'SE' do?
Founding IBM Nottingham Branch / Computer School C48
First Commercial 1130 / Retail for Milletts + various 1401, 1440, 7090
Boots / Stock forecasting
Implementing a very early 360 / BOS, DOS, then MFT, MVT, Cobol, Fortran, RPG,
Rolls Royce Aero Engines

A really leading computer user
Complex, Linked systems (HASP. ASP).

'Field Systems Centre'
Symposiums / Presenting at Cannes / Achievement Awards / Promotions / Business Trips

For more click here: IBMMemories1960s.htm

(this decade has been worked up)

1970's

The NCB Benchmark
Birmingham (Midlands) Systems Centre The operation of large computer complexes. Performance .
World Trade task force on SE Aids and Tools Requirements 1970
Performance Tools
Major Studies - Measurment & Tuning Specialist
Papers/Talks
UK IBM Rep to GUIDE User Group
Other / Symposiums Lisbon / MBCS

Missed assignment

1974: Move to IBM UK Information Systems, Cosham go to 'UKIS'
'Advanced Systems Development', IS Strategy, CICS, IMS
Early 'Online Services' The operation of T/P Services (the first 'help-desks')
Early 'Text Systems' / Stairs text retrieval / ATMS text processing.
The first moves towards 'paperless office'. The 'CREATION' Project / IBM North Harbour opening
The first 'Office Systems' - PSS, PROFS, Email, shared diaries
Colour Terminals

IBMMemories1970s.htm

(this decade partly worked up)

1980's

IBM European Headquarters, Paris

Office Systems
Distributed Processing
'Execuive Support' systems

IBM UK Network Services

Managed Networks- Wide Area Networking, EDI
IBM-BT 'Jove' Joint Project
E-mail

IBM Development Labs (Hursley and off-shoots)

Workstation Development (PC enhancements)
Voice processing - Involved in voice since 1984. Recognition, synthesis and interactive voice response systems -- techniques and practicalities.
I published the STI Review within IBM (Speech and Telephony Information Review - for example the 88C edition went to 160 addressees, in 16 countries, at >70 'localities')
X.25 data communications, X.400 electronic mail,
ISDN: Fast dial-up communications and applications to exploit it. Was active in relevant industry groups, such as the North American, European and UK ISDN User Forums.
also some Collaborative working, Teleworking

IBMMemories1980s.htm

(this decade only at outline stage)

1990's

Computer-Telephone Integration - CTI: The linking together of computers and telephone systems, to improve telephone call handling, customer service and competitiveness.

ACTIUS Industry group

IBMMemories1990s.htm

(this decade not yet at outline stage)

Other Info A very interesting book on life in the IBM Birmingham/Nottingham branches is:
"From Out of the Blue: Three Former IBM'ers Tell It Like It Was" by Frank Broad, Tony Gladwin and Bob Marvin
Publisher: Management Books 2000 Ltd (Nov 1996) ISBN-10: 1852522070
The authors are 3 IBM Salesmen - I never actually worked specifically with any of them, but it's worth reading their insights. (NB one of their anecdotes is about a 'Doug' - that was another salesman, not me...)

Comments, queries and messages to: ibmmemories@glading.com
Parent page: www.glading.com
This Page originally 'on the web' Dec 2010
© Doug Glading ..... 2011
...his mark

.

	Main Page -- Summary. I worked for IBM UK for quite a long time. I basically enjoyed it; I found it interesting, absorbing, sometimes difficult, but overall something to look back on with some satisfaction. It was great to be near the forefront of a lot of new things. Lots of leading (and bleeding) edge early use!! And, I guess most of all, it was a pleasure to meet and work with so many lovely people. From many different countries. Especially early on there was a great comradeship - everybody helped everybody. And it seemed a great place to work. Not atall like the IBM of today I'm most sorry to say.
1960's	Why I joined IBM Trainee Sysytems Engineer / Basic Class B48 Birmingham Branch / Punched Card Systems / IBM 870 / 40-column punched cards, then 80, 421's etc. What did an 'SE' do? Founding IBM Nottingham Branch / Computer School C48 First Commercial 1130 / Retail for Milletts + various 1401, 1440, 7090 Boots / Stock forecasting Implementing a very early 360 / BOS, DOS, then MFT, MVT, Cobol, Fortran, RPG, Rolls Royce Aero Engines A really leading computer user Complex, Linked systems (HASP. ASP). 'Field Systems Centre' Symposiums / Presenting at Cannes / Achievement Awards / Promotions / Business Trips	For more click here: IBMMemories1960s.htm (this decade has been worked up)
1970's	The NCB Benchmark Birmingham (Midlands) Systems Centre The operation of large computer complexes. Performance . World Trade task force on SE Aids and Tools Requirements 1970 Performance Tools Major Studies - Measurment & Tuning Specialist Papers/Talks UK IBM Rep to GUIDE User Group Other / Symposiums Lisbon / MBCS Missed assignment 1974: Move to IBM UK Information Systems, Cosham go to 'UKIS' 'Advanced Systems Development', IS Strategy, CICS, IMS Early 'Online Services' The operation of T/P Services (the first 'help-desks') Early 'Text Systems' / Stairs text retrieval / ATMS text processing. The first moves towards 'paperless office'. The 'CREATION' Project / IBM North Harbour opening The first 'Office Systems' - PSS, PROFS, Email, shared diaries Colour Terminals	IBMMemories1970s.htm (this decade partly worked up)
1980's	IBM European Headquarters, Paris Office Systems Distributed Processing 'Execuive Support' systems IBM UK Network Services Managed Networks- Wide Area Networking, EDI IBM-BT 'Jove' Joint Project E-mail IBM Development Labs (Hursley and off-shoots) Workstation Development (PC enhancements) Voice processing - Involved in voice since 1984. Recognition, synthesis and interactive voice response systems -- techniques and practicalities. I published the STI Review within IBM (Speech and Telephony Information Review - for example the 88C edition went to 160 addressees, in 16 countries, at >70 'localities') X.25 data communications, X.400 electronic mail, ISDN: Fast dial-up communications and applications to exploit it. Was active in relevant industry groups, such as the North American, European and UK ISDN User Forums. also some Collaborative working, Teleworking	IBMMemories1980s.htm (this decade only at outline stage)
1990's	Computer-Telephone Integration - CTI: The linking together of computers and telephone systems, to improve telephone call handling, customer service and competitiveness. ACTIUS Industry group	IBMMemories1990s.htm (this decade not yet at outline stage)

Other Info	A very interesting book on life in the IBM Birmingham/Nottingham branches is: "From Out of the Blue: Three Former IBM'ers Tell It Like It Was" by Frank Broad, Tony Gladwin and Bob Marvin Publisher: Management Books 2000 Ltd (Nov 1996) ISBN-10: 1852522070 The authors are 3 IBM Salesmen - I never actually worked specifically with any of them, but it's worth reading their insights. (NB one of their anecdotes is about a 'Doug' - that was another salesman, not me...)