A decade started by War, ended by conversion to Peace and start of the Cold War. Consulting gains great legitimacy in business circles for government work performed in wartime. Many military officers move into the business world, bringing knowledge and respect for consultants with them. Rapid development of technology and business organization makes business more complex, which also increases the need for consulting services.


1943
Thomas Watson, founder of IBM, predicts that the world market for computers will consist of five machines

Thomas Watson



1946

ENIAC - the first electronic computer goes online. It's weight is 30 tons.

 

 

1947
Booz Allen growing fast. Revenues hit $2 million for the first time.



1950s

A decade of post-War recovery. The baby boom brings lots of future MBAs! Suburbanization. And emergence of effective mass marketing methods with growth in TV.

 


1951

As sole surviving founder partner of Booz, Allen & Hamilton, James L. Allen begins to reshape the firm considerably by hiring large numbers of "bright young men" lacking in business experience, but strong in analytical skills. Booz Allen becomes the leading management consulting firm by 1970, with 1500 professionals on staff


1952
This move, of course, motivated a tremendous amount of strategic thinking later about the appropriate mix of businesses under the corporate umbrella.