Compaq Computer Corporation has developed a plan to triple sales by the end of the century, an encouraging sign for people in Asia looking to enter or move within the computer industry.
By 2000, the US-based company aims to be one of the world's top three computer companies, completing a steady rise from 16th four years ago to fifth today.
Compaq's meteoric rise since it was founded just 14 years ago is due largely to a decision in 1991 to reassess its strategy.
Philip Leung, vice-president and managing director of Compaq's East Asia operation, said the company decided it needed to branch out beyond personal computers (PCs) to continue to grow and compete.
'In October 1991, growth had begun to plateau and we increasingly felt we were not providing for the masses,' he said.
Eckhard Pfeiffer, previously the company's chief in Europe, became the new chief executive and set fresh objectives, including a focus on product technology and a better understanding of the market and customer.
New lower-priced products were launched in 1992 and, two years later, Compaq became the top PC company in the world. However, its lower-cost tactic to penetrate new markets caused revenues to level off.