LAN-Desk finds success on own

While some entrepreneurs take an idea and make a company from it, Joe Wang took one division of a major firm to form his company, South Jordan-based LAN-Desk Software Inc.

Wang, a tech executive for two decades, felt in 2002 that Intel's LAN-Desk software division was undervalued by the company.

Wang felt he could do better with the division's respected line of systems configuration and security management software. Using his own money, plus capital raised from investors, he put in a bid for the division, partnering with another group also interested in acquiring the company.

Wang immediately faced the challenge of forming executive, sales and marketing teams for the independent LAN-Desk, since those functions had been performed by Intel. Through judicious but brisk hiring and intensive training in the company's culture and practices, Wang was able to form an effective management team.

LAN-Desk's move to independence was immediately successful: the fourth quarter of 2002, LANDesk's first on its own, set a product sales record for the flagship LANDesk Management Suite, used at major companies around the world.

Back in Utah, Wang encourages innovation with a modified form of "extreme programming," in which teams of engineers work in a "bullpen," or open office/lab environment. Team members frequently separate into smaller working groups to tackle a specific aspect of some project, then come together again into the larger team to share results and integrate ideas.