Microsoft: From Gate to Satya Nadella Management Essay

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Microsoft: From Gate to Satya Nadella
Introduction
The chapter “Microsoft: From Gate to Satya Nadella” offers the reader an avid analysis of the changes that have been experienced at Microsoft. Besides the changes at the top, the firm has had progressive development of the products it offers to its customers. On the other hand, it has used its financial muscle inappropriately over time. An excellent example is a case for Netscape, a firm that had produced a great web browser. Microsoft countered the idea and gave users a free web browser. On the other hand, there is unfair handling of underperforming employees, which could result in envy and decreased productivity. Relative to this case study, Microsoft has come a long way to the top, but an increase in research and development expenditure coupled with an emphasis on the ethical foundation of the firm could prove to be a better path towards its stardom.
Background
Major notable and worth-mentioning changes happen in the office of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), program managers, product developers, sales and marketing personnel. Besides the changing course in making senior recruitments, the case takes into account strategic developments that Microsoft had to undertake amidst stiff competition from emerging and existent companies. In some instances, the firm had to issue their products at discounted prices or free for them to gain or regain market share in a very competitive market sphere.
Another significant aspect of this case study is the progressive product development signifying the dynamism of this sector. An excellent point in case is Bill Gates’ reluctance to develop an 8-bit processor for IBM and convinced to adopt a 16-bit processor. However, the new product was short-lived as sooner the company began working on the 32-bit processor. Similarly, Microsoft has in most circumstances created products meant to improve its market or else cope with the competition. In its relative counter-intuitive moves, a hotly contested debate could be hinged upon their ethical principles. At some point, Gates had to appear before the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and answer relevant suspicions on their desire to ‘outcompete’ Netscape. This example relates to the ethical standpoints of the firm considering that it bankrupted Netscape. On one side it can be considered unethical because Netscape was in a different field entirely while on the other hand, others would argue from a business and competition perspective. Nevertheless, contemporary business is a real-life practical experience of where the weak perish and the strong survive.
Alternatives
The Microsoft case study is a major technical piece indicating the interjection between being smart as well as ruthless in the business world. Bill Gates leveraged his exceptional abilities in mathematical models and engineering to steer the rise of a very competitive enterprise. He deserves respect for the progressive development of the company until today where it is thriving in the market. This section takes into account some of the actions that could have been addressed differently and a supporting position for those th...