Technology >> CEO Interviews >> March 2, 1998
DOUGLAS J. BURGUM, chairman and CEO of Great Plains Software,
headquartered in Fargo, N.D., joined the company in March 1983, becoming
its first outside investor. He was named chairman and CEO in 1984. As an
advocate of new technology and champion of old fashioned customer
service, Doug created a corporate environment that combines vision and
values. Empowered by that environment, validated in the books "The 100
Best Company's to Work For" and "Making It in America," Great Plains
team members have made their company an industry leader. With Doug at
the helm, Great Plains has grown from a company of 15 employees to
approximately 625, plus thousands of partner organizations around the
world selling Great Plains products, and tends of thousands of customers
using those products to run their businesses. Great Plains itself
operates more like a community than a corporation. At the heart of the
company is a commitment to serving others that has enabled Great Plains
to deliver the industry's "best products," as recognized by a win in the
"BackOffice Challenge for Middle Market Accounting" sponsored by
Microsoft, and the "best service," as reflected by Inc./MCI's cross-
industry Positive Performer Award for outstanding customer service. Doug
recently earned top honors in the technology category of the 1997
Minnesota and Dakotas "Entrepreneur of the Year" awards. He has been
honored in Accounting Today magazine by being named to "The Top 100 Most
Influential People in Accounting" list in 1997 and 1996. Prior to Great
Plains, Doug worked in the Chicago office of McKinsey & Company. He is a
native of Arthur, North Dakota and earned his bachelor of science degree
from North Dakota State University and a master of business
administration degree from the Stanford University Graduate School of
Business. Profile
Plains Software, and then bring us up to date. What is that company
doing today?
Mr. Burgum: The company started as a
