Jim Harris
Jim Harris is a notable figure in the technology industry, best recognized as a cofounder of Compaq Computer Corporation, which he established in 1981 with his colleagues Rod Canion and Bill Murto. Harris, who hails from Texas and holds a degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University, began his career in computing at Texas Instruments in 1967. Under his leadership as vice president of engineering at Compaq, the company made significant strides in producing portable personal computers that adhered to IBM's standards, achieving remarkable financial success, including a billion-dollar revenue year in 1987.
In 1992, following a leadership change at Compaq, Harris left the company to cofound Insource Technology with Canion. Insource Technology focused on consulting and solutions for businesses' computing needs, with Harris taking on the role of chairman of the board. Throughout his career, Harris has also contributed to several start-up ventures. Residing in Houston, Texas, he has been involved in philanthropic efforts, including serving on the board of the Stehlin Foundation for Cancer Research. His contributions have left a lasting impact on the computing landscape, particularly in the realm of personal computing.
Subject Terms
Jim Harris
Cofounder of Compaq
- Born: Date unknown
- Place of Birth: Texas
Primary Company/Organization: Compaq
Introduction
Jim Harris is best known for cofounding Compaq Computer Corporation with friends Rod Canion and Bill Murto in 1981. He was a key player in the company's operations during the 1980s but left along with cofounder Canion in 1992 to form Insource Technology.
Early Life
Jim Harris was born in Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. He began his computing career in 1967 as an engineering project manager at Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas.
Life's Work
Harris's career began in 1967, when, after college, he began working for Texas Instruments. He was a senior manager in the summer of 1981, when he and two colleagues, Joseph R. "Rod" Canion and William H. Murto, decided to start their own company. Initially they were not certain what that company would produce, but they eventually decided to build portable personal computers that met IBM's industry standards. The name Compaq was an acronym for "compatibility and quality." Each man only had $1,000 to invest, so they sought financing from Ben Rosen, president of Sevin-Rosen Partners, a venture capital firm in Houston. Rosen offered $2.5 in funding and became Compaq's chair. The company earned $111.1 million in its first year and enjoyed its first billion-dollar year in 1987.
During that time, Harris served as vice president of engineering, overseeing the development of new products such as the company's initial offering, the Compaq Portable Computer, and encouraging early adoption of technologies such as Intel's 286 and 386 processors.
Compaq Computer Corporation made a long-standing commitment to in-house American production and to what cofounder Canion called "consensus management," which in part led to Canion's ouster from Compaq in 1991. When he left, Harris went with him. Harris and Canion founded a new company, Insource Technology, in 1992 using the same small office space they had first rented when founding Compaq. In his position as chairman of the board, Harris performed top-level executive functions and consulted with midsize to large businesses to address their computing needs. He also was instrumental in a number of start-up companies, namely, Ramteq and Echo Minerals, in Houston and San Antonio, Texas, respectively.
Personal Life
Jim Harris lived in Houston, Texas. He served as a member of the board of the Stehlin Foundation for Cancer Research.
Bibliography
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Dawley, Heidi, Steve Hamm, and Cathy Yang. "Compaq's Rockin' Boss." Businessweek 4 Sept. 2000. Print.
Jeffrey, Cal. "Compaq: Gone But Not Forgotten." TechSpot, 5 Jan. 2023, www.techspot.com/article/2112-compaq/#google‗vignette. Accessed 6 Mar. 2024.
"Insource Technology." n.d. Linkedin.com. Web. 12 Aug. 2012.
Insource Technology Corporation. "About Us: Management Team." n.d. Insource.com. Web. 12 Aug. 2012.
"Jim Harris." n.d. Spoke.com. Web. 12 Aug. 2012.
"Joseph R. 'Rod' Canion." 10 Oct. 2008. Entrepeneur.com. Web. 12 Aug. 2012.
"Rod Canion Announces the Formation of Insource Technology Corporation." 15 Nov. 1994. Thefreelibrary.com. Web. 12 Aug. 2012.
Nee, Eric. "Compaq Computer Corp." Forbes 12 Jan. 1998: 90–94. Print.