Cover Story -- The Best Managers

MICHAEL S. DELL

MICHAEL S. DELL, 32, continues to redefine the PC industry even as he takes his ultra-lean manufacturing style to the higher-margin workstation and server markets. Sales at Dell Computer are growing a torrid 50% annually and should hit $12.2 billion for the fiscal year ending Jan. 31. With Dell's stock up about 220% by late '97, the company is also steaming ahead in overseas markets, and has expanded its sales over the Internet to more than $3 million a week--and growing.