As I've said before in comments here on HN and Twitter, there is no real definition of a "tech company" or "tech industry", the word "tech" defines the operating model. This is the dirty little secret VCs don't like to tell you because it means they can call Tesla a tech company (its a car and battery manufacturer) to fetch tech-like valuations or Facebook a tech company (its a media company). Tech operating models typically net high gross margins (i.e. Facebook) which is one of its major defining characteristics.
I therefore posit there is no such thing as a "tech industry", but rather businesses that sit on a spectrum of operating models from:
- Back office IT supported
- Tech enabled
- Tech Led
Personally I would define IBM as a Diversified IT, IT Services and Software company that is has an operating model that sits somewhere between tech enabled and tech led.
I therefore posit there is no such thing as a "tech industry", but rather businesses that sit on a spectrum of operating models from:
- Back office IT supported
- Tech enabled
- Tech Led
Personally I would define IBM as a Diversified IT, IT Services and Software company that is has an operating model that sits somewhere between tech enabled and tech led.