On Friday, September 27, SAIC officially split into two separate companies: the $4 billion government-services company SAIC, and the $6 technology company Leidos. This was a difficult day for me, and I received messages from many SAIC employees who were also having a difficult time with this fundamental change to the company. The old SAIC is now officially gone. I wish the new companies well. Although they have lost many good people, many still remain.
I thought you might enjoy this photo sent to me by Phil Young. This is the very last product shipment made by the original SAIC. Here’s the message that Phil sent to his team to mark the occasion:
As tomorrow will be the end of the original SAIC and the start of a new adventure with leidos, the Xpose unit that will ship tomorrow for India will be the very last product shipped from our SAIC. SAIC has had a 40 year history of building very unique, science driven products for our customers throughout the world. This is something we all can be very proud of. Thanks for taking the time to gather for a final SAIC product picture (attached, I’m sorry we could not gather everybody). You are all part of the team that has made this company unique and very, very special.
I would personally like to thank all my old friends and colleagues at SAIC one last time for the very best years of my life. We accomplished great things together, and we can all be proud of the company we built.
– Bob
Dear Dr. Beyster,
You leave a great legacy with the original SAIC, and your ideals will live on in the hearts and minds of the people (like those in that photo who look mighty proud of what they accomplished) wherever they may go.
Best wishes,
Joe
I remember fondly the great teamwork I experienced during my time at SAIC! The innovative spirit was second to none!
-Doug
Thank you Dr. B. It was a pleasure to work with you and the other employee-owners of Science Applications International Corporation. The best of times.
Doug: Thank you for your note. I agree with you 100%. — Bob
Joe: It is good to hear from you. I hope your efforts at UCSD are going well. — Bob
Dear Doctor Beyster
I had the wonderful opportunity to work with SAIC on the CHCS program – both as a developer and eventually as one of SAIC’s field managers in the Asia Pacific (not to mention working on the ill-fated Kaiser Permanente proposal – great team, but we couldn’t beat IBMs equipment pricing).
US IPOs are popularly characterized by short term profit as executive management utilizes the revolving door.
While one might bemoan the current cultural evolution occurring at SAIC – I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for starting and amazing company, based on an innovative and amazing business concept – employee ownership.
I’m currently teaching MBA students in China and working on various startup consulting projects – and I’m strongly in favor of the employee-ownership model – so eminently displayed through SAIC and formerly by Hughes (before they went public – and their employees suffered the same culture shock).
So – for the projects I consult on over here (where unfortunately, SAIC has virtual zero presence), Employee-ownership is a fantastic, but yet (to my knowledge) business model to provide sustainable, responsible corporate and employee growth.
Thank you for demonstrating that executive management can have social responsibility (and for giving me some fantastic case-study material).
Michael: Good to hear from you — thanks for your post on my blog. I am glad to hear that you are carrying the SAIC culture with you to China. I find that very interesting. If you would like any information or resources on employee ownership for your MBA students or the consulting work you’re doing in China, I hope you will contact either the Beyster Institute or the Foundation for Enterprise Development. They are both active in employee ownership and can help. — Bob