In some ways, it is a blessing to become chief executive of a firm in a mess. At least that is what Dick Brown has found at eds, the world's biggest pure computer-services firm. Certainly, eds was in trouble when he took over 12 months ago. Profits had stagnated since 1994. Nearly a third of the sales team had failed to sell anything for more than two-and-a-half years; a quarter were bringing in 80% of the business. And Mr Brown has so far thrived on it: new orders should be more than double 1999's dreadful $11 billion. After a miserable few years, shares in eds are around 50% higher than they were when Mr Brown arrived. But what happens next?
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