Title: General Electric, a model of corporate citizenship and business evolution

Authors: Sameer Kumar, Jeffrey L. Ricker

Addresses: College of Business, University of St. Thomas, Mail #TMH343, 1000 LaSalle Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403-2005, USA. ' College of Business, University of St. Thomas, Mail #TMH343, 1000 LaSalle Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403-2005, USA

Abstract: The General Electric Company has spawned from the creativity and genius of Thomas Edison, the entrepreneurial spirit and business savvy of Charles Coffin, and the capital support of J.P. Morgan. The culture of continual improvement and industrial research at General Electric has produced significant breakthroughs and contributions to science and society. The paper presents an analytic framework on the formation and history of General Electric focusing on what has made them successful, the contributions to industry and society, including the performance of the company under Jack Welch, his predecessor, Reg Jones, and successor, Jeffrey Immelt.

Keywords: technology leader; electrification; industrialisation; history; business evolution; best managed company; General Electric; continuous improvement; industrial research; corporate citizenship.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETP.2004.005741

International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy, 2004 Vol.2 No.4, pp.354 - 368

Published online: 29 Nov 2004 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article