John R. Patrick
John R. Patrick | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 5, 1945 Salem, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Executive, writer |
| Known for | IBM ThinkPad, OS/2 operating system, Internet and World Wide Web adoption at IBM |
| Notable work | Net Attitude: What It Is, How to Get It, and Why Your Company Can't Survive Without It |
John Russell Patrick (born August 5, 1945) is a prominent executive and writer within the information technology industry. During his tenure as a vice president at IBM, he played an instrumental role in introducing the IBM ThinkPad and the OS/2 operating system, as well as advancing IBM’s pioneering efforts in adopting the Internet and World Wide Web technologies.
Education and background
Born in Salem, New Jersey to Robert V. Patrick and Virginia Russell, Patrick obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Lehigh University in 1967. He furthered his education with a Master of Science in management science from the University of South Florida in 1971, followed by a Bachelor of Laws from LaSalle Extension University in 1973. Between 1969 and 1971, he served in the United States Army. Later, in 2014, he earned a doctor of health administration degree from the University of Phoenix.
Patrick and his wife Joanne are parents to four children and grandparents to six grandchildren.
IBM years
Patrick began his career at IBM in 1967, initially engaging in sales, marketing, and management positions. He was appointed Vice President of Marketing for Personal Systems in 1992 and later assumed the role of Vice President of Internet Technology in 1995, holding this position until his retirement in 2001.
In 1982, he contributed to establishing the IBM Credit Corporation, which has grown into the largest computer leasing enterprise worldwide. He played a pivotal role in founding the IBM PC Company in 1992, responsible for launching the IBM ThinkPad. By February 1993, he served as marketing vice president for the division that introduced the OS/2 operating system.
Patrick spearheaded IBM’s intranet and IBM.com website initiatives starting in 1995. He launched "WebAhead," which was among the first corporate directories and instant messaging systems based on Java technology. Additionally, he created alphaWorks, IBM’s online research and development platform focusing on advanced Internet innovations, and initiated the "Get Connected" program to promote Internet adoption both within IBM and across the industry.
In collaboration with IBM, Patrick supported the establishment of the World Wide Web Consortium at MIT in 1994. He championed standards related to content regulation (Internet Content Rating Association) and privacy protection (p3P and TRUSTe). That same year, he became a founding board member of Terisa Systems, a partnership dedicated to secure Internet transactions. In 1995, he was a founding member and chairman of the Global Internet Project, advocating for industry-led governance of the Internet to reduce regulatory interference. He also endorsed the creation of Internet 2 in 1996, a consortium focused on advancing next-generation Internet infrastructure. In 1998, Patrick supported forming the International Corporation for the Assignment of Names and Numbers, which facilitated global Internet expansion without regulatory obstacles.
Attitude LLC
In 2001, Patrick authored Net Attitude: What It Is, How to Get It, and Why Your Company Can't Survive Without It and founded Attitude LLC. He currently acts as a board director, keynote speaker, and author. His work has evolved into a series titled “It's All About Attitude,” addressing subjects such as mHealth, robotics, home automation, cryptocurrency, and mobile blockchain voting. This series provides practical perspectives on emerging technologies and their influence on business practices and societal trends.
Honors, awards, and affiliations
- In 1999, Network World recognized Patrick as one of the “25 most influential figures in networking,” attributing to him a key role in restoring IBM’s standing during the rise of the Internet.
- Fast Company featured his strategic outline “Get Connected,” which presented six foundational principles that transformed sectors and accelerated innovation within corporations.
- Industry Week included him among “R&D Stars to Watch” for his contributions to fostering innovation and boosting economic development.
- Business 2.0 listed him as one of the most compelling thinkers in the technology field.
- He was honored as an IEEE Fellow in 2008 for his leadership in both technical and policy advancements related to the World Wide Web.
- Serves on the Digital Patient Experience Executive Committee at Nuvance Health.
Books by John R. Patrick
- Reflection Attitude: Past, Current, and Future (Attitude LLC, 2022)
- Robot Attitude: How Robots and Artificial Intelligence Will Make Our Lives Better (Attitude LLC, 2019)
- Home Attitude: Everything You Need To Know To Make Your Home Smart (Attitude LLC, 2017)
- Net Attitude: What it is, How to Get it, and Why it is More Important Than Ever (Attitude LLC, 2016)
- Election Attitude: How Internet Voting Leads to a Stronger Democracy (Attitude LLC, 2016)
- Health Attitude: Unraveling and Solving the Complexities of Healthcare (Attitude LLC, 2015)
- Net Attitude: What It Is, How to Get It, and Why Your Company Can't Survive Without It (Perseus, 2001)
Other publications by John R. Patrick
- “Internet Usage Guidelines in a Commercial Setting.” Internet Society Proceedings, 1995.
- “Shaping Up the Internet.” Informationweek no. 597 (September 16, 1996): 174.
- “The Infinite Advantage of Infinite Information.” Across the Board Vol. 34, no. 1 (January 1997): 57.
- “Get Connected! An Internet-based Communications Program to Re-engineer the Way You Do Business.” The Journal for Quality and Participation. Vol. 20, no. 2 (March 1997): 76-81.
- “The Future of the Internet.” Design Management Institute Review, Vol. 14, Issue 2 (Spring 2003), pp. 29–35.
- “The Ultimate Internet.” Network World, November 10, 2003.
- “Best Business Books 2004: The Bubble.” Strategy+business, November 30, 2004.
- “High Deductibles Spike Health Care Costs.” The Hartford Courant, June 28, 2015.
- “Health Attitude.” Sun and Surf Magazine, July 1, 2015.
- “How mHealth will spur consumer-led healthcare.” mHealth, Vol. 1, Issue 5, July 15, 2015.