Microsoft has experienced a decline in reputation, influence and share value dur
ID: 460097 • Letter: M
Question
Microsoft has experienced a decline in reputation, influence and share value during the last decade, and it has been recognized by the Board of Directors that change is needed.
At issue, is what should be changed to increase company performance by improving Microsoft’s reputation, products, and practices.
This assignment requires you to address key areas of concern about the company which include its structure, culture, and the use of power and influence. This assignment requires you to evaluate Microsoft’s current structure, culture and distribution of power and reach a conclusion about whether they are suited to fostering higher levels of performance and innovation.
Analyze Microsoft’s culture using concepts from the course. Is the culture compatible with the new structure? Is it well suited to fostering high performance and innovation? If yes, why? If not, why not and what would you change?
2 ) Which coalitions have the most power at Microsoft? What are the sources of this greater power? Have the most powerful coalitions hampered or helped Microsoft meet its stated company goals?
Microsoft has experienced a decline in reputation, influence and share value during the last decade, and it has been recognized by the Board of Directors that change is needed.
At issue, is what should be changed to increase company performance by improving Microsoft’s reputation, products, and practices.
This assignment requires you to address key areas of concern about the company which include its structure, culture, and the use of power and influence. This assignment requires you to evaluate Microsoft’s current structure, culture and distribution of power and reach a conclusion about whether they are suited to fostering higher levels of performance and innovation.
Analyze Microsoft’s culture using concepts from the course. Is the culture compatible with the new structure? Is it well suited to fostering high performance and innovation? If yes, why? If not, why not and what would you change?
2 ) Which coalitions have the most power at Microsoft? What are the sources of this greater power? Have the most powerful coalitions hampered or helped Microsoft meet its stated company goals?
Explanation / Answer
Ans;
Microsoft‘s new structure is well suited to fostering collaboration and innovation. The structure of the company is set in such a way that it focuses on one strategy rather than a multiple of strategies. This implies that the company focuses on the production of goods and services that are meant to meet the needs of the customers at once. Applying the single strategy to a major company like Microsoft comes along with various advantages.
One of the advantages is that the strength of individual members’ ability is greatly encouraged. When a person’s ability is closely examined, it creates motivation which in turn drives collaboration and innovation. Secondly, a single strategy is important in fostering collaboration and innovation because it creates a good environment that can result in positive progress and development (Wein). This is because the integration of departments has resulted to a condition where there no competitions since the departments work towards the achievement of a common goal. The single strategy also helps in fostering collaboration and innovation since the time taken to manage employees in each department is reduced as the employees are now monitored and managed under a single department. The one strategy approach has greatly helped the company in aligning the innovation plan with the goal of the strategy.
Since the company strategy works with a single department it is imperative that the managers of the company are able to know whether the innovation plan will meet the goals of the strategy. Additionally, the structure of the company is important in fostering collaboration and innovation because it assists to make quick adjustments to changes that take place on the goals of the single strategy (Wein). In order to achieve the objectives that are set by the single strategy it is important that the management system and the production line are keenly observed. The management system should have different divisions of innovators who are also experts in the specific division in order to improve the operating systems of devices as well as encouraging and motivating other members of the team.
Microsoft culture is grounded on the production of quality goods and services using the technology that is available. Additionally, they have the belief that nay innovation and change that takes place in the company should match with the culture of the company. In order to ensure that culture is embraced, the company has turned its focus on the employment of right employees who are at a position of producing quality goods and services (Hidden). Moreover, to enhance collaboration and innovation the new employees are taught about the culture of the company. The rewarding culture system of the organization also matches with the new structure because an individual would be given a reward on the grounds that the goals of the single strategy are attained. The reward system thus helps the organization to stick to its culture while ensuring that innovation and high performance are enhanced
The main coalition that has gained most power is the REBA coalition. Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA) is focused unto ensuring that the company has new sources of energy. The main sources of the power include the collaboration with other companies as well as the founding members of the company (Hidden). Another powerful coalition is the Future of Internet Power Initiative that works to ensuring that Microsoft comes up with an internet that best fits current innovation and collaboration. As it is the case of REBA, the coalition receives more power through the interaction that the make with other utilities and companies.