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Eighth Annual High
Tech
Prayer Breakfast 1999
Jan Baan
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Jan Baan is a pioneer in the world of enterprise applications software. He founded the company that bears his name in 1978, and made his first software sale in 1979. Baan Company was listed on the Nasdaq and Amsterdam Stock Exchanges in 1995. In 1997, Baan Company posted revenues of nearly US$700 million. It is one of the fastest-growing suppliers of enterprise applications software.
Jan Baan's visionary approach to the business software industry can be traced back to an early fascination with manufacturing, in addition to an exacting eye for detail. He began his working life as an administrative clerk at a meat packing company, where he delved into inventory control after-hours to come to an understanding of the flow of goods to and from the company.
After attending business college, Jan Baan started Baan Company, at first an account-ing consultancy specializing in financial engineering. With the development of his first software package, he entered what was to become the ERP industry. His brother, Paul Baan, joined him in the management of the company. Baan Company's growth and success have been guided by the Baan Brothers' personal philosophy of Innovation, In-tegrity and Initiative, his focus on teamwork, and his commitment to helping employees maintain a healthy balance between their work and private lives.
Upon the IPO of the Baan Company, the Baan Brothers set up The Oikonomos Founda-tion (Oikonomos is Greek for "steward"). The foundation's goal is to employ the funds acquired through the sale of Baan Company shares on the stock exchange in a "good stewardship" manner. Oikonomos Foundation supports charitable projects worldwide, with a strong emphasis on projects that help beneficiaries help themselves. |
