In the early 1950s, J. Lyons and Company, an English firm, became the site of the first commercial computer installation. (Some people might claim that distinction for the payroll computer installation at GE’s Appliance Park in Louisville, KY, in the same early-1950s time frame.) This paper is an interesting juxtaposition of an anecdotal history of the company’s opportunity and decision to implement a business computer system with a sociological analysis of why the company was able to risk taking advantage of this cutting-edge technology. I admit I found the anecdotal part more enjoyable, but the academic analysis certainly offers interesting theory as to why Lyons was able to take advantage of the opportunity with which it was presented. My interest level aside, the academic analytical portion of this article provides a useful framework with which to measure other companies and their suitability to accept and succeed at high-risk ventures.