About this book:

*Xerox Corp.: The Story of An American Company* charts the remarkable journey of an iconic American enterprise, from its humble beginnings as a photographic supplier to its revolutionary impact on the modern office and its ongoing reinvention in the digital age. This comprehensive narrative delves into the ingenuity of Chester Carlson, the visionary leadership of Joseph C. Wilson, and the groundbreaking innovation of the Xerox 914, the plain-paper copier that transformed global business and made "to xerox" a household verb. Beyond its copier dominance, the book explores the pivotal role of Xerox PARC, a research hub that pioneered many foundational technologies of personal computing, including the graphical user interface, the mouse, and Ethernet, highlighting both its triumphs and the company's struggle to commercialize these breakthroughs.

The book traces Xerox's evolution through periods of intense competition from rivals like IBM and Japanese manufacturers, the challenges of antitrust scrutiny, and a profound internal commitment to quality that earned it the Baldrige Award. It examines the company's ambitious, yet sometimes challenging, diversification into areas like insurance and financial services, leading up to the critical financial crises of the early 2000s. The narrative then shifts to the remarkable turnaround led by Anne Mulcahy and the historic succession of Ursula Burns, who further steered Xerox into the digital age with the monumental acquisition of Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) and its subsequent spin-off into Conduent, reshaping Xerox into a services-led organization.

Today, Xerox is strategically reinventing itself for the hybrid workplace, focusing on advanced Managed Print Services, cloud solutions, and a growing portfolio of IT and Digital Services. The book explores its ongoing innovations in both traditional toner and cutting-edge inkjet technologies, its commitment to sustainability, and its ambitious expansion into AI-driven solutions and IT support for businesses of all sizes. *Xerox Corp.* is more than just a corporate history; it's a testament to innovation, resilience, and constant adaptation in the face of technological disruption, offering valuable insights into the complexities of corporate strategy in a rapidly changing world.

What You'll Find Inside:

• **From Photographic Pioneer to Copying King:** Discover how Haloid Photographic Company transformed into Xerox, pioneering the revolutionary plain-paper copying process with the iconic Xerox 914, which fundamentally changed office work and made 'to xerox' a household verb.
• **The Birthplace of Modern Computing:** Explore Xerox PARC, the Palo Alto Research Center, where groundbreaking inventions like the graphical user interface (GUI), the computer mouse, Ethernet networking, and laser printing were developed, shaping the personal computer industry as we know it.
• **The Challenge of Commercialization:** Understand the complexities and missed opportunities surrounding Xerox's inability to fully commercialize PARC's revolutionary innovations, allowing other companies like Apple and Microsoft to bring these technologies to the mass market.
• **Navigating Crisis and Reinvention:** Witness Xerox's dramatic financial turnaround in the early 2000s under Anne Mulcahy, its strategic pivot into business process outsourcing with the acquisition of ACS, and the subsequent spin-off of Conduent to sharpen market focus.
• **Xerox in the Digital Age:** Learn about Xerox's modern portfolio, which extends beyond traditional print to comprehensive Managed Print Services, cloud-based solutions, IT services for hybrid workplaces, and a growing emphasis on AI-driven technologies and sustainability.

Who's It For:

This book is for anyone interested in business history, technological innovation, and corporate strategy. It will particularly appeal to those curious about how a single invention can transform an industry, the challenges of fostering and commercializing groundbreaking research, and how established companies adapt and reinvent themselves in the face of intense competition and digital disruption.