The new HP way: Leveraging strategy with diversity, leadership development and decentralization

A case study of how Hewlett-Packard is changing its culture under the direction of its new chief executive Carly Fiorina is presented. Fiorina says her challenge is to make sure HP represents the next century rather than the last one. To prepare for the future, company leaders saw the need to create a "New HP Way." Under the new way, all HP employees - but especially managers - must be leaders who generate enthusiasm and respond with extra effort to meet customer needs. They must personally accept responsibility and are encouraged to upgrade their skills and capabilities through ongoing training and development. Some of the characteristics of the new HP Way may seem natural progressions today, but they would have been hard to believe years ago and, in fact, still pose problems in some parts of HP's global empire.