Genius of Business and Management

No doubt, the most successful businessman and company leader of the late 20th century and the early 21st century is Bill Gates, one of the richest men in the world. He is the idol of the new generation of Americans and a lot of people in other countries.

Microsoft, the company Bill Gates and Paul Allen started in 1975, is now second to none in the US computer industry. Its corporate headquarters are in Redmond, Washington. The company is one of the world's largest and most important producers of computer software. It is famous for its Windows operating system, used on most personal computers, for Microsoft Word, a word-processing program, for its spreadsheet programes, and for Internet Explorer, a program for Web surfing. The company holds the second place in video gaming market. Bill Gates has kept Microsoft at the cutting edge of new technology for many years.

Microsoft is not popular in the world of American business. According to experts, the company is violating the US anti-trust law and even business traditions. The point is that all big firms usually have competitors in all sectors of the economy. But Microsoft has monopolized the market of operating systems and sells new versions of Windows with all applications. But in spite of the numerous anti-trust cases, Bill Gates skillfully leads the company, and it still remains successful and unique.

The company's success is mostly explained by Gates himself and his excellent leadership.

Bill Gates was born on the 28th of October, 1955. His father, William H. Gates II was an attorney. His mother, Mary Gates, was a remarkable woman. Her father was a banker, and she was engaged in social and business life. In high school, Bill Gates began writing software. In 1973, he entered Harvard University. At university, he went on programming. He wrote versions of BASIC for the first personal computers. After three years at Harvard, Bill Gates had to drop out to start Microsoft. He was 19 at that time. In his book The Road Ahead, Bill Gates writes that luck played a great role in his life. He was fortunate to have a family and teachers who encouraged him. He was lucky to become friends with Paul Allen. Without Paul, there would have been no Microsoft, Gates says. He was lucky to be born at the right time.

Bill Gates' success stems from his personality. He is intelligent, creative and diligent. He is a workaholic devoted to programming.

Bill Gates has a gift of foreseeing future. He has a smell for innovation. Many of his predictions have turned out to be correct. For example, in 1990 he predicted that in the near future people would have "information on fingertips", and very soon, thanks to computers and the Internet, his dream came true. Gates has also predicted the development of pocket computers, car computers, PC-kiosks, voice control and some other inventions.

In his company, Gates pays much attention to research and development. He has an excellent team of talented and creative programmers and developers. As a strong, democratic leader, Bill Gates encourages his workers and steers them to success. His company is always in search of new products, it is always in progress.

 

Exercise 9. Find in the text the equivalents of these words and word combinations.

По мнению экспертов; конкуренты; программа обработки текста; несмотря на многочисленные антимонопольные судебные дела; главным образом объясняется; участвовала в социальной и деловой жизни; продолжил заниматься программированием; бросить университет; ему повезло; родиться в нужное время; умный, творчески мыслящий и трудолюбивый; дар предвидеть будущее; предсказания оказались верными; карманные компьютеры; киоск ПК; речевое управление.

 

Exercise 10. Answer the following questions in pairs.

1. Why is Bill Gates a wealthy man?

2. When was Bill Gates born?

3. Who were his parents?

4. What education did he get?

5. When did he begin writing software?

6. Who started Microsoft? When did it happen?

7. What is Microsoft famous for?

8. What are Bill Gates' personal qualities?

9. What does his success stem from?

10. What do you think about Bill Gates?

 

Exercise 11. Speak about Bill Gates as a prominent leader.

Exercise 12. Read the article about the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. What do you think about their collaborative approach to philanthropy? Do you agree with the proverb: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others"? Why?