Michael Scott (Apple Computer)
Encyclopedia
Michael "Scotty" Scott is an American entrepreneur, who was the first CEO of Apple from February 1977 to March 1981. Formerly director of manufacturing at National Semiconductor
, Scott was persuaded by Mike Markkula
to take the CEO position at Apple, as the co-founders — Steve Jobs
and Steve Wozniak
— were both seen as insufficiently experienced for the job at the time.
Attempting to set an example for all businesses, in 1979 Scott declared there would be no typewriters at Apple. In 1979 and 1980, Jef Raskin
's Macintosh
project was a four-person research
effort. It wasn't considered important within Apple, and was almost canceled a couple of times. When Apple had another major reorganization in the fall of 1980, it was terminated again, but Jef pleaded with Scott and Markkula for more time, and was granted three more months to show that he was really onto something.
On February 25, 1981, the day known as "Black Wednesday" at the company, Scott personally fired forty Apple employees, including half of the Apple II
team, in a belief that they were redundant. Later in the afternoon he assembled the remaining employees with a keg of beer and explained the firings by stating, "I used to say that when being CEO at Apple wasn't fun anymore, I'd quit. But now I've changed my mind — when it isn't fun any more, I'll fire people until it's fun again."
Following this abrupt event, he was moved to vice chairman, a title with little power, and Mike Markkula
, the man who had hired Scott, replaced him.
Scott left Apple officially on July 10, 1981; stating in his resignation letter:
From 1983 to 1988, Scott led Starstruck
, a private firm that attempted to create a sea-based satellite
-launching rocket. He also began supporting non-profit organizations, such as the Seattle Opera
and the California Institute of Technology
in their efforts to apply personal computers to their needs.
Scott has since become an expert on colored gemstone
s, having written a book on them and assembled a collection that has been exhibited at the Bowers Museum
in Santa Ana, California
. He also sponsored Rruff, a project creating a complete set of high-quality spectral data from well-characterized minerals.
National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor was an American semiconductor manufacturer, that specialized in analog devices and subsystems,formerly headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA. The products of National Semiconductor included power management circuits, display drivers, audio and operational amplifiers,...
, Scott was persuaded by Mike Markkula
Mike Markkula
Armas Clifford "Mike" Markkula, Jr. is an American entrepreneur who was an angel investor and second CEO of Apple Computer, Inc., providing early critical funding and managerial support...
to take the CEO position at Apple, as the co-founders — Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
and Steve Wozniak
Steve Wozniak
Stephen Gary "Woz" Wozniak is an American computer engineer and programmer who founded Apple Computer, Co. with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne...
— were both seen as insufficiently experienced for the job at the time.
Attempting to set an example for all businesses, in 1979 Scott declared there would be no typewriters at Apple. In 1979 and 1980, Jef Raskin
Jef Raskin
Jef Raskin was an American human-computer interface expert best known for starting the Macintosh project for Apple in the late 1970s.-Early years and education:...
's Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
project was a four-person research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
effort. It wasn't considered important within Apple, and was almost canceled a couple of times. When Apple had another major reorganization in the fall of 1980, it was terminated again, but Jef pleaded with Scott and Markkula for more time, and was granted three more months to show that he was really onto something.
On February 25, 1981, the day known as "Black Wednesday" at the company, Scott personally fired forty Apple employees, including half of the Apple II
Apple II series
The Apple II series is a set of 8-bit home computers, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977 with the original Apple II...
team, in a belief that they were redundant. Later in the afternoon he assembled the remaining employees with a keg of beer and explained the firings by stating, "I used to say that when being CEO at Apple wasn't fun anymore, I'd quit. But now I've changed my mind — when it isn't fun any more, I'll fire people until it's fun again."
Following this abrupt event, he was moved to vice chairman, a title with little power, and Mike Markkula
Mike Markkula
Armas Clifford "Mike" Markkula, Jr. is an American entrepreneur who was an angel investor and second CEO of Apple Computer, Inc., providing early critical funding and managerial support...
, the man who had hired Scott, replaced him.
Scott left Apple officially on July 10, 1981; stating in his resignation letter:
From 1983 to 1988, Scott led Starstruck
Starstruck (company)
Starstruck Inc was a company founded by James Bennett that attempted to perform low-cost orbital rocket launches using experimental, sea-launched hybrid rockets. While a commercial failure, it is an important part of hybrid rocket history, responsible for restarting commercial development of hybrid...
, a private firm that attempted to create a sea-based satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
-launching rocket. He also began supporting non-profit organizations, such as the Seattle Opera
Seattle Opera
The Seattle Opera is an opera company located in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1963 by Glynn Ross, who served as the company's first general director through 1983, Seattle Opera's season runs from August to late May, with five or six operas offered and with eight to ten performances each, often...
and the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
in their efforts to apply personal computers to their needs.
Scott has since become an expert on colored gemstone
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
s, having written a book on them and assembled a collection that has been exhibited at the Bowers Museum
Bowers Museum
The Bowers Museum is located in Santa Ana, California, in Orange County. The museum offers exhibitions, lectures, art classes, travel programs, children’s art and music education programs, and other community events...
in Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
. He also sponsored Rruff, a project creating a complete set of high-quality spectral data from well-characterized minerals.