Oral history interview with John Keane

Abstract

John F. Keane is the founder of Keane Inc. (formerly Keane Associates Inc.). Mr. Keane was educated at Harvard University, where he took an MBA in 1954; he subsequently was in the Navy and was employed by Arthur D. Little and IBM before founding Keane Associates. Mr. Keane attributes the phenomenal success of Keane Associates to the development of a systematic project management technique, later published as Productivity Management. He describes milestones in the evolution of Keane Associates, including forays into software products and integrated systems, the development of the health-care division, and company acquisitions. He concludes with some reflections on his public involvements including those with ADAPSO and Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) where he served as president. This oral history was sponsored by the Software History Center in conjunction with the Center's ADAPSO reunion (3 May 2002).