Rating: 
Summary: a good book after you get used to the painfully dry style.
Review: They say engineers (myself included) are generally poor writers; then David Packard must be an absolute genius. David Packard's book (as has his company been one) is an important contribution and a must read for company executives. But it does require patience and dedication -- like the one he and Bill Hewlette had to endure to make HP a success! Once you get through the first 6 or 7 chapters the book becomes and absolute GEM. Until then -- and unfortunately you almost have to read the first few chapters -- the book is a positive cure for sleeplessness. HP's dedication to innovation, its financial frugality (which shows up in Dave Packard not hiring a good ghost writer or editor) and the importance of Management by Objectives, Decenterlized Organization, and Management by Walkign Around, Expected Returns on R&D are only some of the Gems hidden in this book; but you do have to mine to get to them and IMHO it is a worthwhile pain to go through. What also comes through is how HP slipped their biggest chance of dominating the chip and computer market by not taking the risk and cancelling the OMEGA project. Reading David Packard's fatalistic justifications is worth 10 times the price of the book. Also little credit is given to the inventor of the calculator that made HP a house hold name, and no mention is made of procurement of Appolo(until in Appendix 2)!!! Admittedly, I am at fault for having difficulty with this book. I read it after reading "Hard Drive, Bill Gatees and the Making of Microsoft Empire" by Jamve Wallace and Jim Erickson. These gentlemen are professional writers/journalists that know how to grab ones attention and keep it. Reading them before "The HP Way", which incidently and surprisingly was rated the best business book of 1996 by Amazon readers, is like watching the movie Titanic, and then going home to suffer through 6 hours of Mr. Rogers!!! But I do still recommend the book not to mention that I am more inclined to one day work for the comapny! Cheers, --- Esfandiar
Rating: 
Summary: A Nice Synopsis But A Dose Of Personality Would Help
Review: This book is a good overview. Its interesting to read how Hewlett Packard has grown from the little garage shop to the large conglomerate it is today. However, there are a few aspects that are clearly missing.First, it would be nice to see what motivated both Bill Hewlett and David Packard to pursue starting up Hewlett Packard and even providing more detail in why they chose an engineering path. David Packard knew he did not want to follow his father's lawyer career path but he does not say why. He does mention his like for conducting sicentific experiments but does not ellaborate on what caused such a curiosity. Als, why were Bill Hewlett's grades so questionable that it took hi father's teching record to get him into Stanford? Also, when David Packard talks about the many Hewlett Packard products he explains them in a manner where only someone familiar with Electronics Products would truly have a clear understanding of what he is talking about. And the writing style is overly to the point here with little in the way of pizzaz. The glossary helps a little bit but I should not have to find out at the end of the book, what I wanted to know at the beginning. Packard does overglorify his involvement in political affairs. He puts himself a little too high up on the pedestal with this and that Hewlett Packard was the innovator of the work/personal life balance that many other companies have today. None the less, the parts which Packard details the management style are explained in a good level of detail. Most readers will get the impression that David Packard was a fair boss who liked to insure that each of his employees was important. This is hammered home with an incident he had with a machinist. Also, the Management By Walking Around style is a detailed nicely through the example of corporate visits, departmental presentations, and company picnics. Generally, this is worth reading especially if you can pick it up at your local library. Its just too bad that there are some missing details and a lack of excitement in the writing style. But the end result basically meets its intentions.
Rating: 
Summary: To begin from the beginning...
Review: This book is a simple, yet profound, guide to cultivating a healthy corporate culture--the basis for a creative, profitable company. The beginning chapters may be confusing to some (the synopsis of Bill and Dave's early life stories). However, I found a subtle message: the importance and benefit of a work/life balance to one's well being. This component seems to be slowly draining away from corporate cultures, and I'm positive that the results will be disastrous. I'm hoping we don't get to that point. The work/life principle, along with others, forms an incredible methodology for leadership. Fans of Deming, Drucker, et al., will be thoroughly pleased. Anyone who might be depressed because they are criticized for conscientious management or treatment of fellow employees should read this book: they'll discover that their attitudes will prevail.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good
Review: Very good history of HP and what made its success in the early days. David Packard and Bill Hewlett have build a truly amazing organization basically from scratch; this book will outline the major steps that led to this success. A more recent edition with comments on current issues and technological challenges would be very valuable.
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