Borland’s Decline: Key Events Behind the Fall
Delphi Work Area Over the years since Phillipe Kahn moved Turbo Pascal to the forefront Delphi has had its struggles. The fall of Borland was driven by aggressive, ill-timed acquisitions. Intense competition with Microsoft contributed as well. Additionally, there was a lack of clear strategic direction. Here are the key steps and events that led to Borland decline: Aggressive Acquisitions (1987-1991): Borland expanded rapidly. It purchased Ansa Software (makers of Paradox) for $38 million in 1987. Later, it acquired Ashton-Tate, the maker of database management software. This acquisition cost $440 million in 1991. These acquisitions, particularly the costly buy of a struggling Ashton-Tate, put significant strain on the company's finances. The Spreadsheet Price War (1989-1994): Borland launched its Quattro Pro spreadsheet. This launch initiated a fierce price war against Lotus 1-2-3 and…
