Microsoft’s Next CEO: 10 Required MSFT Changes
As Microsoft’s (MSFT) board looks for a CEO to succeed Steve Ballmer (here’s a potential candidates list), The VAR Guy sees plenty of areas where the software giant succeeded and failed during Ballmer’s tenure. But what changes must Microsoft’s next CEO make? Here are 10 of them.
1. Partner First: Microsoft somehow forgot to launch decent partner programs when Office 365 cloud services and Surface tablets launched. For Microsoft, launching products without the channel firmly on board is like launching an incomplete product. Somehow, Ballmer forgot his channel-first heritage as Microsoft chased direct-to-market and consumer-oriented models that Google and Apple celebrate.
2. Fewer SKUs: Do customers and channel partners really need a dozen or so Office 365 SKUs? As Steve Jobs proved over and over again, less is more. Give customers fewer choices and they’ll make buying and deployment decisions faster. As will your partners.
3. Customers First: If Microsoft really put the customer first since 2009 or so, the company would have delivered apps across Android and Apple iOS. Instead of protecting Microsoft architectures — i.e., Windows — Microsoft must invade new lands. Remember how Microsoft’s Windows NT eventually supported Novell’s IPX/SPX protocol? It was the perfect trojan horse strategy into the server market vs. NetWare. Support iOS and Android, Microsoft. Please your customers. Then convert them to a superior Windows experience — if you deliver one.
4. Have A Succession Plan: How is it that Microsoft reorganized in July 2013. Fast forward one month, and there’s no clear successor to Ballmer? How is that possible?
5. Restrict Windows Licenses to Hardware Partners: The Windows 8 market is flooded with tablets, two-in-ones, notebooks, ultrabooks and PCs. Figure out a way to enforce quality control — and weed out the low-quality hardware partners. The VAR Guy doesn’t know how to raise the bar on hardware quality. Perhaps Microsoft’s licensing team does?
6. Make Windows Desktop as a Service (DaaS) Easy to License: Plenty of small VARs and MSPs want to offer hosted Windows desktops. But service provider licensing can be tricky. And the wait for hosted Windows in Azure continues. Time for Microsoft to make this market incredibly easy for partners and customers to embrace.
7. Abandon Your Jargon: The VAR Guy gets a bit annoyed each time Microsoft calls a tablet a “slate.” Seems like Microsoft gets caught up in its own jargon rather than just accepting industry terms — popularized by rivals — and moving forward.
8. Skate to Where The Puck Is Going: Microsoft launched the Zune to catch up against the iPod. Surface to catch up against iPads. Windows 8 to catch up against iOS and Android. Ummm… Google Glass is on the way. As is Galaxy Gear. And Apple iWatch. Can Microsoft ever get ahead of this technology innovation wave (pretty please)?
9. Extend Windows XP’s End of Life Date: Microsoft will kill Windows XP’s support on April 8, 2014. On the one hand, XP is an aging operating system — it’s time for users to move on. On the other hand, Windows Vista was a disaster and Windows 8 is off to a rough start. The logical near-term business answer is Windows 7. Offer your partners and customers one last break. Around Jan. 8, 2014, announce that you’re extending Windows XP support for six more months — to Oct. 8, 2014.
10. Speak to the Media: So wait a minute — Ballmer essentially spent two decades avoiding top Microsoft reporter Mary Jo Foley? Solid sources. Extensive reporting. Respected accuracy. Instead of ducking the best, Microsoft’s CEO must communicate more with the best — even if it involves constructive criticism and hard-hitting coverage.
That’s about it from here… More thoughts on Microsoft’s CEO change coming soon.
So may be should take over as
So may be should take over as CEO as you already have a 10 point plan ?
Can you negotiate my
Can you negotiate my contract?
Release the hotfixes to
Release the hotfixes to Microsoft Update and WSUS in a separate category.
That way, the IT Amins won’t have to spend that much time manually downloading and installing hotfixes every month!
Jonahthan: We’ll send the
Jonahthan: We’ll send the suggestion over to Microsoft 😉
-jp