040_Way, A. O

              Interview Summary
A. O. Way with Lou Kraar, FORTUNE _May 12, 1977_
Q. I'm fascinated that GE's high-growth businesses grow faster than some entire companies. What part of GE's total business do the high growth businesses represent?
A.     To give you a perspective, materials and services 5 years ago represented 19% of our business. Last year it was 27% and, including Utah, was 40%. But, answering specific question, I doubt that we could break down and disclose publicly that x% of our business is growing at a certain % a year.
Q.     Tell me, blow by blow from your point of view about Utah. When were you brought in?      
A.     It occurred in mid-year of 1975.
Q.    Where were you when Mr. Jones told you, how long did meeting last, etc.?
A.    It was in his office here. He told me there was some possibility of a marriage. He asked me to consider it, look at the numbers and see how it fit together. Meeting lasted less than an hour probably.
Q.    The numbers you had to look at...were they available?
A.     No. We didn't keep a file on Utah. We went out and got published information. We clearly had to be careful about that. I wouldn't go and ask people directly for the information. We finally got collected what Utah publishes itself, also what security analysts were saying, vis-a-vis markets. What we were doing was seeing what a new GE would look like and what it would do for us.
Q.    Were others involved?
A.     No. Bits and pieces. I got back to using a calculator myself...at home on weekends and in the office.
Q.     How long did this go on? A.    Into the fall.