Hewlett-Packard's Hurd: We can do even better

When Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) again topped expectations for its latest fiscal quarter this week, the world's largest computer maker seemed like it could do no wrong. In addition to again besting estimates, CEO Mark Hurd again set the bar high for other tech CEOs. If Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) CEO Michael Dell believes he's got a fierce competitor in Hurd, that would be an understatement. Hurd is everything former Dell CEO Kevin Rollins should have been and more.

But that's still not good enough for the low-key Hurd, who most likely believes that the company can still do better. After raising guidance this week for the remainder of 2008, Hurd stated that "we've got a lot of work to do here," using his famous phrase that he's used to describe various high-performing business units within the company. Hurd also dropped a hint that he won't be CEO of the world's largest computer maker forever, stating that "It's important to know when your work is done ... CEOs can stay too long." Not that Hurd is going anywhere at the moment -- he just recognizes that he'll be exiting HP at some point in the future when the time is right.

Hurd's taken a unique, nuts-and-bolts approach to his job that has flat-out worked. Instead of trumpeting vision, he focuses in on strategy and execution. Instead of chasing market share at all costs, he looks at each business unit with laser precision and pays special attention to costs. By taking care of the underlying infrastructure and nurturing all those components, success will emerge. It sure has for H-P, which seems to be outgunning competitor Dell in just about every area where the two compete. It'll be that way until Hurd retires from the company, which will probably be many years from now. Until then, H-P looks to be continually poised at the top.