Sometimes it's easy to understand the joke that IBM stands for "I've Been Moved."
For instance, last month the company did some quiet shuffling of products and executives within its massive Software Group. Among the changes will be the creation of new business units and the phase-out of its Network Computing Software Division. The division handled things such as security, Java and host access technologies.
In an extraordinarily dense December 15, 1999 internal memo, John Thompson, senior vice president and head of the Software Group, told IBM employees that changes are "designed to position people and products within the business segments that align with (the) customers' view of the market."
With the dissolution of the Network Computing Software Division, users can now expect to see:
The transfer of IBM SecureWay security and metadirectory products to Tivoli's Managing Technology segment. Carl Kessler will head the newly branded Tivoli SecureWay unit.
SecureWay host integration and Web to host products will become part of a newly formed Transformation and Integration unit, part of the already existing Application and Integration Middleware business unit.
OS/2 and Workspace On-Demand will become part of the Software Group's Solutions and Strategy unit, which was formed last fall.
The internal memo states that the newly formed Solutions and Integration unit will concentrate on finding ways to tie Software Group products into industry specific applications. The unit will "work across all of our product groups and maintain a strong relationship with the client teams...."
Jeff Jaffe, head of the SecureWay Software unit, will now become vice president, technology and policy for IBM. Jaffe will focus on developing guidelines for IBM to follow in the areas of policy and security.