 | Level: Introductory Scott Laningham (scottla@us.ibm.com), Podcast Editor, IBM developerWorks
12 Sep 2006 Three critical players in alphaWorks' history reflect on IBM's highly regarded early-adopter program, share their thoughts on the impetus for the program. Not familiar with podcasting? Learn more. In this podcast
Irving Wladawsky-Berger, Rod Smith, and Gina Poole have all played important roles in the history of alphaWorks, IBM's early-adopter developer program that is widely regarded for its business model and success rate in nurturing emerging technologies. The three share their thoughts on the impetus for the program, as well as successes and lessons along the way. Listen to the podcast (17:00) (Click to listen or right-click "Save as" to download) Read the transcript
Since 1996, alphaWorks has offered early-adopter developers worldwide a way to experience the latest innovations from IBM® and to contribute in a development dialogue, with a resulting 40 percent of technologies posted to the alphaWorks Web site having been incorporated into IBM products or licensed to third-party developers. alphaWorks' business model has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the Harvard Business Review. alphaWorks also received the 2003 Software Developer's Journal Jolt award for best developer Web site.  Wladawsky-Berger is responsible for identifying emerging technologies and marketplace developments critical to the future of the IT industry, and organizing appropriate activities in and outside IBM in order to capitalize on them. In conjunction with that, he leads a number of key innovation-oriented activities, and formulates technology strategy and public policy positions in support of them. As part of this effort, he is also responsible for the IBM Academy of Technology and the company's university relations office. His role in IBM's response to emerging technologies began in December 1995, when he was charged with formulating IBM's strategy in the then-emerging Internet opportunity, and developing and bringing to market leading-edge Internet technologies that could be integrated into IBM's mainstream business. He has led a number of IBM's companywide initiatives, including Linux, IBM's Next Generation Internet efforts and its work on grid computing. Most recently, he led IBM's on demand business initiative. He is a member of the University of Chicago Board of Governors for Argonne National Laboratories and of the Technology Advisory Council for BP International. He was co-chair of the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee, as well as a founding member of the Computer Sciences and Telecommunications Board of the National Research Council. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. A native of Cuba, he holds a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Chicago and was named the 2001 Hispanic engineer of the year. You can contact him at irving1@us.ibm.com.  Smith is an IBM Fellow and vice president of Emerging Internet Technologies in the IBM Software Group. He is a recognized technical leader, both within IBM's software business and across the industry. His team's technological innovations and cross-industry collaborations have enabled the rapid adoption of technologies such as Web services, XML, Linux, J2EE, and next-generation rich user-collaboration technology and wireless applications. He enjoys a sustained -- and unparalleled -- record of achievement in the software business due to his ability to identify key emerging technologies well before they become mainstream. He is often sought out to provide guidance in helping customers establish their own future technical strategies and directions. IBM has honored him with numerous awards, including the Thomas J. Watson Jr. Design Excellence Award. He has co-authored a U.S. Senate Report and has written numerous articles for the IBM Systems Journal. You can contact him at rod.smith@us.ibm.com.  Poole is vice president of Innovation and University Relations, with worldwide responsibility for developing and executing internal programs that drive the IBM strategic imperative for innovation further into the IBM culture and external programs for collaborating with clients, partners, governments, and academia to foster innovation. She was previously vice president of Developer Relations for IBM with worldwide responsibility for the IBM developer programs and also led the IBM Academic Initiative. She began her career with IBM in 1984 as a programmer in the personal computer division. She has held a number of management positions in IBM software and hardware divisions. She is a certified Project Management Professional and holds degrees in computer science, business management, and economics. You can contact her at gpoole@us.ibm.com.
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Duration
Get the podcast | Description | Name | Size | Download method |
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| Interview |  IBM executives | 8MB | HTTP |
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| Transcript | IBM executives | 15KB | HTTP |
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Resources
Podcast credits | 
| | Scott Laningham, host of developerWorks podcasts, was previously editor of developerWorks newsletters. His other work has included reporter and director for programming featured on Public Radio International, freelance writer for the American Communications Foundation and CBS Radio, and songwriter/musician. |
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