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Pondering the Future of a Re-Org'd Microsoft
puddingebola writes "This story from Forbes touches on Steve Ballmer's announcement that Microsoft will reorganize. From the article, 'Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer appears to be planning a major reorganization. His apparent objective is to help the company move toward becoming a "devices and services company," as presented in the company's annual shareholder letter last October.' What follows is an analysis of the current state of Microsoft's current ventures: shrinking PC sales, Nokia management calling for a change of course, Office 360 lagging, a $1 Billion investment in Nook, the losses on Xbox. Once again, if Microsoft starts to lose the revenue of Windows and Office, how long does the boat float? And what of the suggestion, on the verge of another update in the Xbox console, that Microsoft should sell the Xbox division?"
Because he was grandfathered in. The guy has no technical or business knowledge and the only reason he has anything to do with Microsoft is because he was lucky enough to have known Bill Gates and Paul Allen when they were forming the company.
This article did not discuss the reorganization plans. Instead it whined and complained about Microsoft's poor sales performance.
I don't think IBM should take your insults lying down. IBM knew when to shift. They may not be high-profile in the PC world anymore, but they've certainly spun off their product lines to companies that could handle them. Meanwhile, IBM themselves haven't exactly disappeared. A quick cut-and-paste from Wikipedia: "In 2012, Fortune ranked IBM the #2 largest U.S. firm in terms of number of employees (433,362),[7] the #4 largest in terms of market capitalization,[8] the #9 most profitable,[9] and the #19 largest firm in terms of revenue.[10] Globally, the company was ranked the #31 largest in terms of revenue by Forbes for 2011.[11][12] Other rankings for 2011/2012 include #1 company for leaders (Fortune), #1 green company worldwide (Newsweek), #2 best global brand (Interbrand), #2 most respected company (Barron's), #5 most admired company (Fortune), and #18 most innovative company (Fast Company).[13]"
In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
As a naive individual with little to no business knowledge or training, could somebody please explain how Steve Ballmer is still CEO of Microsoft?
I would surmise it is a combination of the following:
* Balmer is among the largest shareholders in the company and good buddies with his predecessor who is the largest shareholder and Chairman
*Microsoft has a relatively unimpressive and compliant board largely hand picked by Bill Gates and Balmer
*The fact that despite their problems the company remains hugely profitable which makes it harder for the board to complain even if they were inclined to do so.
*The company's large market cap and strong cash position make them a very unattractive target for a buyout and difficult for activist investors
*There are credible rumors that Balmer culls potential rivals within the company
I'm sure there are other reasons but those are probably among the bigger reasons.
I'd buy an Xbox today if it could replace my office pc. I need word, excel, and support for network printers.
On my Linux ultrabook I have LibreOffice which opens anything produced on word, and I've been using a great HP printer server that gives me wireless and internet printer access for a long time. Seriously, whats the gain by using Microsoft?
Python: 'And then suddenly you have a language which says "we're all stuck with whatever the whiniest coder wants".'