Below is a excerpt from Deny and me.
 
It looks like we are almost at the end of this thread as we are now
splitting hairs..  The quote is a quote and nothing more....
 
I repeat, in order for profits to be first, customers must be first.
So, which is really first????  Profit is the goal, customers are the
means. perhaps each is really first, just viewed from different
angles.. For example...  If you stand behind a horse (and were from
Mars), you might think you were view the front of him /her??
Sorry, that's the best I can do :-)...
 
marty indreboe
- - - - - - - -
 
In a message dated 96-02-22 16:52:31 EST, [log in to unmask] (Marty
indreboe) writes:
 
>ell, it mine turn to comment on the hp philosophy.....
>
>I used to work for HP in the field as an Se in the early 1980's...
>
>Customers ARE Still first,  the difference is that profit
>was added to the picture...
>
>HP Still believes that you MUST treat customers well
>in order to be profitable.  Therefore they understand that if
>you do not make them happy you do not attain profit over the
>long haul.  Hence and ergo, customers are first.
>
>To view it from another angle, and this will get them screaming...
>HP now recognises that you can not put EVERY CUSTOMER first.
>
>I do not know if this is what Larry is trying to say or what HP
>is trying to say, but it is my opinion.....
>
>
>marty Indreboe
>Proactive Systems, Inc
>
>
>
 
I have just looked up the question in David Packard's book, The HP Way.
 
On page 80, it clearly states that Profits are first and foremost, next
are
Customers, Field of Interest, Growth, Employees, Organization and
finally
Citizenship.  Mr. Packard states that this set of objectives was
published in
1966.
 
Kind regards,
 
Denys. . .