The bombardier story:planes,trains and snowmobiles

The fascinating story of how a one-man operation grew into a global transportation powerhouse In 1942, Joseph-Armand Bombardier, an obscure Canadian inventor living in the wilds of Quebec, invented the snowmobile and founded a company to manufacture it. In the six decades since, Bombardier, Inc. has branched out a bit. In addition to its world-famous Ski-Doo the company now manufactures the equally popular Sea-Doo jet-ski along with train and subway systems and several models of aircraft, including its ever-popular Learjet. In The Bombardier Story, journalist Larry MacDonald gives a fascinating account of the company, and how from its humble beginnings in rural Canada it grew into a worldwide transportation powerhouse, first in rail transport and the third-largest aircraft manufacturer, worldwide. MacDonald explores the management and leadership strategies behind Bombardier's spectacular growth, strategic diversification and its legendary turnaround and acquisition wizardry. Larry MacDonald (Ottawa, Ontario) is a technology columnist for numerous publications and the author of Nortel Networks (Wiley: 0-471-64542-7).

Acknowledgements

A Brief History of Bombardier Inc.

Preface

Introduction: The Rise of A Corporation

Chapter 1: Armand Starts a Company

Chapter 2: An Excellent Ski-Doo Adventure

Chapter 3: Diversify or Die

Chapter 4: A Breakthrough Deal

Chapter 5: Making Subway Cars the Bombardier Way

Chapter 6: Becoming Number One

Chapter 7: Gravy Trains on the Horizon

Chapter 8: Turning into Aerospace

Chapter 9: Portrait of a Turnaround Artist

Chapter 10: Revolution in the Sky

Chapter 11: Bombardier Takes Wing

Chapter 12: Dogfight in the Clouds

Chapter 13: A Jet Takes Off From the Drawing Board

Chapter 14: New Generations

Chapter 15: Lessons in Strategic Governance

Chapter 16: A Prototype for the Twenty-First Century?

Chapter 17: The Challenges Ahead

Endnotes

Index