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A fading giant

Development Lead
Current Employee
Has worked at Microsoft for less than 1 year
January 30, 2009
Redmond, Washington
3.0
Doesn't Approve of CEO
Pros

Building up a resume; working on products used by millions of customers; gaining respect and honor from its legacy; job security; benefits.

Cons

Slow career advancement.

With stock becoming valueless, the compensation package is not very competitive among top-tier companies.

Long-term prosperity of the company is in question after huge missteps from the senior leadership team. In all those years, MS was focusing 100% on finding the next multi-billion dollar business after Windows and Office.

It was willing to spend enormous resources on some stupid ideas like smartwatches instead of trying them out and failing fast in a light way.

With its effort spreading so widely, the core business is losing attention, and we are seeing big troubles in Windows Vista and Windows Mobile.

The most questionable strategy is betting the whole company on search to chase Google's tail. It's not clear whether this is for the company's good or for Bill and Steve's personal ego.

After 5 years and tens of billions of dollars, Live Search is still miserable. Now, it's not clear that Live Search would even be able to catch up before the core business dries up.

The search game has become a billionaire's gamble by risking this once great company.

Advice to Management

Refocus back to core businesses and what Microsoft is good at.

Fix Windows first.

Microsoft still has huge room to grow and a much higher chance to succeed in the enterprise software field.

Give up search and some consumer products which Microsoft doesn't know how to win.

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