Strategic Dissection Paper on “Microsoft Corporation�? Essay Example
Abstract
This paper defines and exemplifies some of the strategies presented by David (2008) that are currently being used by the Microsoft organization. This work presents different levels of strategy (corporate and functional), some of integration and intensive strategies.
Levels of strategy
The corporate level of management consists of the chief executive officer (CEO), other senior executives, and corporate staff. The main role of corporate-level managers is to observe the development of strategies for the whole organization. This role includes defining the goals of the organization, determining what businesses it should be in, allocating resources among the different businesses, formulating and implementing strategies that span individual businesses, and providing leadership for the entire organization. (Hill & Jones, 2008)
The main strategic responsibilities of Microsoft’s CEO, Steve Ballmer, are setting overall strategic goals, implementing the strategic goals and objectives of the organization, giving direction and leadership toward the achievement of the organization’s philosophy, mission, strategy, and its’ annual goals and objectives.
According to Hill & Jones (2008), functional-level managers are responsible for the specific business functions or operations (human resources, purchasing, product development, customer service, and so on) that constitute a company or one of its divisions. Thus, a functional manager’s sphere of responsibility is generally confined to one organizational activity, whereas general managers oversee the operation of a whole company or division. Although they are not responsible for the overall performance of the organization, functional managers nevertheless have a major strategic role: to develop functional strategies in their area that help fulfill the strategic objectives set by business- and corporate-level general managers.
One of the Bill Gates’ four golden rules working in Microsoft is “Let the engineers rule”.
This paper defines and exemplifies some of the strategies presented by David (2008) that are currently being used by the Microsoft organization. This work presents different levels of strategy (corporate and functional), some of integration and intensive strategies.
Levels of strategy
The corporate level of management consists of the chief executive officer (CEO), other senior executives, and corporate staff. The main role of corporate-level managers is to observe the development of strategies for the whole organization. This role includes defining the goals of the organization, determining what businesses it should be in, allocating resources among the different businesses, formulating and implementing strategies that span individual businesses, and providing leadership for the entire organization. (Hill & Jones, 2008)
The main strategic responsibilities of Microsoft’s CEO, Steve Ballmer, are setting overall strategic goals, implementing the strategic goals and objectives of the organization, giving direction and leadership toward the achievement of the organization’s philosophy, mission, strategy, and its’ annual goals and objectives.
According to Hill & Jones (2008), functional-level managers are responsible for the specific business functions or operations (human resources, purchasing, product development, customer service, and so on) that constitute a company or one of its divisions. Thus, a functional manager’s sphere of responsibility is generally confined to one organizational activity, whereas general managers oversee the operation of a whole company or division. Although they are not responsible for the overall performance of the organization, functional managers nevertheless have a major strategic role: to develop functional strategies in their area that help fulfill the strategic objectives set by business- and corporate-level general managers.
One of the Bill Gates’ four golden rules working in Microsoft is “Let the engineers rule”.