General Electric
In today’s highly competitive business environment, many businesses strive to expand their operations and integrate new products in order to remain competitive in their own markets, as well as potentially increase their share in others. For instance, Comcast Corporation is the largest cable company and the second largest Internet service provider in the United States (Answers, 2007). Additionally, Comcast develops broadband cable networks, and is involved in electronic retailing and Television programming content (Answers, 2007). So what exactly does Comcast gain from partaking in all of these endeavors? Comcast now serves 24.2 million cable viewers, 13.3 million digital cable customers, and 3.0 million voice customers (Answers, 2007). Another example of a multi-faceted firm is Daewoo. Since its founding in March of 1967 as Daewoo Industrial, the company has expanded dramatically and currently incorporates numerous divisions including electronics, marine engineering, securities, construction, and automotive (Answers, 2007). Up until its own founder eventually contributed to its downfall, Daewoo’s many undertakings had allowed it not only to exert a strong influence worldwide, but also to become the second largest conglomerate in Korea behind Hyundai. While Comcast and Daewoo’s comprehensive approaches towards their respective businesses are to be commended, there is one firm which stands head and shoulders above all others in terms of all-inclusiveness, innovation, and sheer size.
History
General Electric was founded by Thomas Edison in 1878 as the Edison Electric Light Company which, with the merging of Edison’s collective businesses twelve years later, became the Edison General Electric Company (Answers, 2007). During its early years, the company was primarily focused on developing an incandescent lighting system and other electricity generating, transmitting, and controlling devices (Answers, 2007). The advent of the electric light...
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