Corporate Social Responsibility at HP

The company's growth was further boosted by heavy purchases that were made by the US government during the Second World War. In the 1950s, HP developed strong technological capabilities in the rapidly evolving electronics business. In 1951, HP invented the high speed frequency counter, which significantly reduced the time required to measure high frequencies.

HP's CSR initiatives began in the early 1940s, with the donation of US$ 5 to a local charity. The momentum for these initiatives was set by the company founders. Packard believed that building long-term shareholder value was not just about an organization making profits, but about the organization making a contribution to society and its people.

In 1966, the company established HP Laboratories, to conduct research activities relating to new technologies and products. In the same year, HP designed its first computer for controlling some of its test-and-measurement instruments. During the 1970s, HP continued its tradition of innovation. In 1974, HP launched its first minicomputer that was based on 4K dynamic random access semiconductors (DRAMs) instead of magnetic cores. In 1977, John Young was named HP president, marking a transition from the era of founders to a new generation of professional managers. In the 1980s, HP emerged as a major player in the computer industry, offering a full range of computers from desktop machines to powerful minicomputers...