Computer Sciences Corporation

Computer Sciences Corporation
Computer Sciences Corporation · Public domain · source
Name	Computer Sciences Corporation
Type	Public
Fate	Merged to form DXC Technology
Founded	1959
Founder	Roy Nutt; Fletcher Jones
Headquarters	El Segundo, California, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Industry	Information technology services
Products	IT consulting, systems integration, outsourcing, software
Num employees	91,000 (2016)

Computer Sciences Corporation was an American information technology services firm founded in 1959 and headquartered in El Segundo, California. CSC grew into a major provider of IT consulting and outsourcing services, serving public-sector and commercial clients across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company was publicly listed and later merged to form DXC Technology in 2017.

History

CSC was established in 1959 by Roy Nutt and Fletcher Jones alongside early collaborations with institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology contractors and projects tied to NASA programs during the Space Race. In the 1960s and 1970s CSC expanded through federal contracts with agencies including Department of Defense (United States), National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and state governments like State of California. The firm navigated industry shifts during the rise of IBM mainframes and later adopted client-server models influenced by vendors such as DEC and Sun Microsystems. In the 1980s and 1990s CSC diversified via strategic acquisitions, competing with peers like Electronic Data Systems, Accenture, and Unisys. Post-2000, CSC pursued globalization aligned with trends from Nokia outsourcing and Microsoft enterprise platforms, restructuring amid economic cycles including the Dot-com bubble and the 2008 financial crisis before its 2017 combination with Hewlett Packard Enterprise's services unit to create DXC.

Corporate Structure and Operations

CSC operated as a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CSC and organized into business units serving sectors such as Defense Logistics Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans Affairs, and commercial verticals including Bank of America, Shell plc, and Walmart. Its governance included a board of directors with executives experienced in firms like Boeing, General Electric, Siemens, and AT&T. Global delivery centers were located in regions including India (Bengaluru, Hyderabad), Philippines (Manila), Poland (Kraków), and United Kingdom (London). CSC maintained partnerships with technology vendors such as Oracle Corporation, SAP SE, Cisco Systems, IBM, and VMware to deliver systems integration and managed services. The company reported revenues segmented by commercial and public sector lines and adhered to accounting standards under the Securities and Exchange Commission reporting regime.

Services and Products

CSC offered a portfolio spanning application development and maintenance, systems integration, cloud computing migration, cybersecurity operations, and business process outsourcing for industries like insurance (e.g., Aetna), healthcare (e.g., National Health Service (England) collaborations), and telecommunications (e.g., Verizon Communications). Software products included proprietary asset management and identity management offerings, with delivery built on platforms from Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Oracle Database, and SAP ERP. Professional services encompassed consulting practices analogous to firms such as McKinsey & Company and Deloitte, and project delivery used methodologies influenced by PRINCE2, ITIL, and Agile software development frameworks in engagements with clients such as Pfizer, General Motors, and Procter & Gamble.

Major Contracts and Clients

CSC secured major contracts with federal agencies including agreements with Department of Defense (United States), Department of Veterans Affairs, Internal Revenue Service, and municipal programs in jurisdictions like City of Los Angeles and State of Texas. Internationally, CSC served clients such as Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Royal Bank of Scotland, and government entities of United Kingdom and Australia for large-scale modernization programs. Commercial relationships included long-term outsourcing with corporations such as Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., BP, and ExxonMobil. CSC also partnered on defense programs with contractors like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman for systems engineering and logistics support.

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Restructuring

Throughout its history CSC pursued inorganic growth via acquisitions of firms including International Network Services assets, the acquisition of DynCorp's IT units in parts, and regional firms across Europe and Asia Pacific to expand capabilities. The company divested non-core units and reorganized its portfolio several times to align with market trends, including a 2012 rebranding of business units and cost-reduction programs mirroring peers such as HP Inc. and Capgemini. In 2017 CSC completed a landmark merger with the enterprise services business of Hewlett Packard Enterprise to form DXC Technology, combining legacy contracts and workforce and consolidating competing portfolios across global markets.

Controversies and Legal Issues

CSC faced legal and contractual disputes over performance and procurement in various jurisdictions, including litigation related to federal contract compliance with the False Claims Act and procurement oversight by the Government Accountability Office. The firm was involved in controversies over certain outsourcing program failures and project delays that drew scrutiny from entities such as state auditors and parliamentary committees in United Kingdom cases involving service delivery. Employment and labor disputes occurred in several countries, with negotiations involving unions like the UNITE and regulatory reviews by authorities including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for workplace matters. Cybersecurity incidents affecting third-party vendors and attribution debates invoked oversight from agencies such as National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Legacy and Impact on the IT Industry

CSC's legacy includes pioneering large-scale application outsourcing models used by organizations like Caterpillar Inc. and influencing the global offshore delivery model exemplified by firms in India and Philippines. Its role in public-sector IT modernization contributed to debates on privatization of services seen in analyses by think tanks and universities such as Harvard University and Stanford University. The merger that created DXC Technology reshaped the competitive landscape alongside Accenture, IBM Global Services, and Tata Consultancy Services, affecting consolidation trends in the IT services sector. Alumni from CSC went on to leadership roles at firms including DXC Technology, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Google, perpetuating influence on enterprise software procurement, cloud adoption, and outsourced service models.

Category:Defunct companies of the United States Category:Information technology companies Category:Technology companies established in 1959