2 ms·

Being a jerk is not the success factor here. Without actual competence, Ellison would not have gotten far. It's being right and being a jerk in combination whic

by Hermel 12y ago

Being a jerk is not the success factor here. Without actual competence, Ellison would not have gotten far. It's being right and being a jerk in combination which is so powerful. "he read a paper published by IBM, which outlined a way to make it easier to store and retrieve data — a prototype for the first relational database. 'I saw the paper, and thought that, on the basis of this research, we could build a commercial system.'”

dave_sullivan 12y ago
That jumped out at me because I thought Bob Miner brought the paper and its potential ramifications to Ellison's attention. Ellison doesn't strike me as the kind of guy that sits around reading papers out of IBM research. Can anyone confirm one way or another? I'm pretty sure it's technically true, but also a good example of how he lies.
- beachstartup 12y ago
  From wikipedia: It was at this time that Ed Oates[4] introduced Miner and Ellison to a paper by E. F. Codd on the relational model for database management. yet the PDF it references says ellison did it. i think this is one of those things that will always be up for debate, as everyone is going to have a slightly different recollection of it. it doesn't matter though - no question that IBM wrote it, but oracle as a company decided to pursue it, meaning that everyone was on board. the book "the difference between god and larry ellison" goes into a lot of this detail. it was basically 3 or 4 guys doing intense technical work for several years, including larry ellison. in my opinion the book paints him as a fair businessman with a knack for over-the-top personal behavior. i don't remember it saying he ever tried to screw over his cofounders or run-of-the-mill employees. also, i don't think i've ever read him claim that he invented databases or had the initial idea to commercialize ibm's ideas. that's something that the media projects onto him since he's such a celebrity compared to his co-founders.
ulisesrmzroche 12y ago
It's almost a bigger sin to have unleashed relational DBs though.

by Hermel 12y ago

dave_sullivan 12y ago

That jumped out at me because I thought Bob Miner brought the paper and its potential ramifications to Ellison's attention. Ellison doesn't strike me as the kind of guy that sits around reading papers out of IBM research. Can anyone confirm one way or another? I'm pretty sure it's technically true, but also a good example of how he lies.

beachstartup 12y ago
From wikipedia: It was at this time that Ed Oates[4] introduced Miner and Ellison to a paper by E. F. Codd on the relational model for database management. yet the PDF it references says ellison did it. i think this is one of those things that will always be up for debate, as everyone is going to have a slightly different recollection of it. it doesn't matter though - no question that IBM wrote it, but oracle as a company decided to pursue it, meaning that everyone was on board. the book "the difference between god and larry ellison" goes into a lot of this detail. it was basically 3 or 4 guys doing intense technical work for several years, including larry ellison. in my opinion the book paints him as a fair businessman with a knack for over-the-top personal behavior. i don't remember it saying he ever tried to screw over his cofounders or run-of-the-mill employees. also, i don't think i've ever read him claim that he invented databases or had the initial idea to commercialize ibm's ideas. that's something that the media projects onto him since he's such a celebrity compared to his co-founders.

ulisesrmzroche 12y ago

It's almost a bigger sin to have unleashed relational DBs though.