Corporations have difficulty keeping a positive light shone on them, to the point where they have been diagnosed as psychopaths. Psychopaths typically show no empathy or compassion for others, feel no guilt for their actions, and can act irresponsibly or impulsively continuously. The Corporation outlined this theory on many different companies, such as Coca-Cola, Monsanto, and the Cochabamba protests in 2000, where instances of gross mistreatment of employees, deceit, and guiltless actions were highlighted. Although countless companies have checkered pasts, one seemingly innocent company stands out strong, that company being IBM. Throughout IBM’s history, there have been incidents of irresponsible behaviours, lack of empathy, and difficulty
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The aforementioned symptoms are shown in IBM; the inability to feel guilt, decietful and irresponsible behaviour, and lack of compassion for others. The company has denied discussion on the topic all together, preferring to disassociate themselves from one of the darkest periods in human history. Employees have denied knowing anything about the alliance with the Holocaust at all, while former employees claim that they knew all along. IBM has not settled on an exact standpoint on the issue, as different sources claim incongruous knowledge; apologists and telltales alike have their own version of the story, copiously contradicting one another. Leon Krzemieniecki, one of many few who were operating during the Holocaust, claims “I only know that this very modern equipment made possible the control of all the railway traffic in the General Government [of Poland].” Yet, Michael Zamczyk, a former IBM employee, researched heavily the effects IBM had during the Holocaust, and found connections to his own family being sent to Auschwitz, including his own father. Zamczyk has sought out apology, saying that “I felt that IBM owned an apology not only to me, but for what the company did during the war..I wanted the truth.” In The Corporation, vice president Irving Wladawski-Berger insisted “I really do believe that particular accusation has been fairly discredited as a serious accusation,” he says in the film. “They used equipment, that is a fact. But how much cooperation they got… that is the part that is discredited.” With the proof from documents and monetary gain accounted to the company, IBM has shown unceasing discrepancy involving the topic--one of many symptoms of a psychopath. IBM’s extent to obscure the association during World War II has gone so far that archives retaining to the 1940s are exempted from being examined.
The aforementioned symptoms are shown in IBM; the inability to feel guilt, decietful and irresponsible behaviour, and lack of compassion for others. The company has denied discussion on the topic all together, preferring to disassociate themselves from one of the darkest periods in human history. Employees have denied knowing anything about the alliance with the Holocaust at all, while former employees claim that they knew all along. IBM has not settled on an exact standpoint on the issue, as different sources claim incongruous knowledge; apologists and telltales alike have their own version of the story, copiously contradicting one another. Leon Krzemieniecki, one of many few who were operating during the Holocaust, claims “I only know that this very modern equipment made possible the control of all the railway traffic in the General Government [of Poland].” Yet, Michael Zamczyk, a former IBM employee, researched heavily the effects IBM had during the Holocaust, and found connections to his own family being sent to Auschwitz, including his own father. Zamczyk has sought out apology, saying that “I felt that IBM owned an apology not only to me, but for what the company did during the war..I wanted the truth.” In The Corporation, vice president Irving Wladawski-Berger insisted “I really do believe that particular accusation has been fairly discredited as a serious accusation,” he says in the film. “They used equipment, that is a fact. But how much cooperation they got… that is the part that is discredited.” With the proof from documents and monetary gain accounted to the company, IBM has shown unceasing discrepancy involving the topic--one of many symptoms of a psychopath. IBM’s extent to obscure the association during World War II has gone so far that archives retaining to the 1940s are exempted from being examined.