Annually, Fortune magazine releases a list of the top 500 largest companies in the United States (Time Warner Co., 2008). Being ranked no. 44 in 2008, Microsoft has increased its revenues 15.4% since 2006 because of its continued efforts to release latest technology (Time Warner Co., 2008). To understand how Microsoft continues to lead in profits, sales and technology, the consumer must realize internal and external factors influence how Microsoft performs and operates. In depth, Microsoft’s planning functions are influenced by the consumer’s need, which continues to influence Microsoft’s products and services. The purpose of this paper is to identify and explain the internal and external factors which impact the planning functions of …show more content…
The shortcoming is forcing Microsoft management to plan for a way to make up for the loss in profit (Schenker, 2007, p.1). Electronic business is an external trend that has developed rapidly changing the way in which businesses market their products. These changes have influenced Microsoft’s management to make plans to pursue the advanced abilities the Internet has created. Microsoft’s current goal is to achieve acknowledgement in the business arena of advertisement via the online market. “Microsoft (MSFT) aims to stitch together its software, ad serving, and media properties to become a formidable online power with many of the marketing pieces that advertisers look for as they embark on Internet ad campaigns” (Schenker, 2007, p.1). Microsoft is currently aligning a strategic and management plan which will appeal to its customers by using their reputable name and powerhouse infrastructure. Innovation continues to affect different planning functions of Microsoft. Innovation is defined as the “introduction of new things or methods” (Dictionary, 2008). Therefore, planning must be calculated in a strategic, tactical and operational manner in order to be effective. With strategic planning, Microsoft must think of long-term goals and strategies for its corporation (Bateman-Snell, 2007). Tactical planning is developed to specify goals and plans that target a majority of the corporation and its consumers (Bateman-Snell, 2007).
Microsoft has developed into an inescapable force within the technological field. Coming from a delayed humble beginning, it has had to devote large sums of money to approach the levels of the founding technological companies. Today, Microsoft controls the market in computer software. How they have achieved this status is what some have come to question. Through “bundling” software programs, manipulating other computer companies, and packaging deals with personal computers, Microsoft has managed to eradicate nearly all competitors in the computer software market (Love, 1997). This near monopoly affects the entire spectrum of classes, including the consumer, other networking providers,
As a result of the wide spectrum of products Microsoft offers, they communicate to a wide customer base. The company has implemented successful brand and communication strategies throughout their range of products which vary across software, entertainment, devices and gaming etc. The modern media mix typically used by Microsoft includes television campaigns and the internet to generate reach, mobile to drive engagement and social media to spark conversations and generate virility. However, in contrast with the other sectors they operate in Microsoft holds a smaller market share in the smartphone and tablet industries. This means that Microsoft needs to implement branding and communication strategies that focus on gaining new customers rather than
In order for Microsoft to be able to reach the goals set by Bill Gates, they must use their considerable resources efficiently to create a place in each market for the online consumer. If they wish to produce and offer online services such as electronic mail, information data bases, personal finance management, video on demand, and electronic commerce, then acquiring firms already specialized in at least some of these areas is the most efficient way to do so. Intuit’s products align with Microsoft’s without significant overlap such that the combined firms would provide a handsome horizontally integrated suite of products with prime market share positions including word processing (49% market share), spreadsheet (48% market share), tax preparation, accounting, banking, and bill paying which would all open up the prospect of continued online grazing by the user leading to repeat sales to Microsoft’s video on demand and future entertainment market. The larger objective would be to capture the user in a web to conduct direct financial transactions over the
Microsoft is the software giant responsible for bringing Windows operating system to the PC (personal computer). Microsoft is also a known and well respected company in the global market. The tech giant has dominated the computer industry since 1981. Due to the nature of such a huge company, Microsoft has its hands in multiple markets. Microsoft currently competes in file hosting, software, operating systems, and gaming consoles. Unfortunately, each of the afore-mentioned markets differ from one another. For the purpose of this paper, the market that
When entering the business field it is of vital importance to have a strategic plan. However, over time strategies may change and plans will need to be altered in order to ensure that the business stays relevant and that the business will continue to increase market share while continuing the business endeavor. Many have seen it time and time again where companies start out with a business plan and refuse to tweak it in order to meet consumer demand and they eventually fall from the industry leader that they once were (QuickMBA, 2011). For example, a prominent company such as Microsoft has been caught ignoring the mobile market, but now the smartphone era has become centerfold and they are nowhere near the top
Today’s market demands organizations to have a strategic plan. The purpose of the strategic plan describes where the organization wants their organization to go. A strategic plan is a document used to communicate goals, and the actions needed to achieve those goals. In order to remain competitive every organization needs to innovate to stay ahead of the competition. They need to develop new products and services with increasing frequency. The design of these new products and services must meet, or exceed, customer expectations and at the same time, they must generate an acceptable financial return for the organization. However, any business that does not realize the importance of developing new products will not last very long as a consequence
One company that appears to have a gap between its mission and its capabilities is Microsoft. The software giant has long had a problem with respect to innovation, and continues to rely on aging franchises for the bulk of its revenue. It was left out of the mobile operating systems boom and has failed to be a leader in either software or consumer electronics as a result (Clarke, 2010).
This essay plans to focus on the corporate strategy of Microsoft, and show how Microsoft has used diversification successfully within their corporate strategy to gain a competitive advantage.
The planning school of thought is a strategy that emphasizes the need for an organization to ensure that its business strategy is in alignment with the environment that it operates. In other words, an organization’s strategy must ‘fit’ the environment that it chooses for a business operation. A meticulous analysis of both the internal and external environments is considered in the planning school of strategy. Furthermore, the planning school of strategy often requires details that could probably make an organization not flexible to a market even when conditions demands flexibility (Barnat, 2014). Additionally, this strategy employs organizations to implement various marketing theories and Product Life Cycle in understanding the maturation of the market so that with past trends coupled with
This report is issued in order to inform the public about Microsoft Corporation. We analyzed the profitability and liquidity of this company. In addition, we were able to provide recommendations for investments or credits in Microsoft for the best interest of the public.
Mr. Gates’ also explains how Microsoft tackled the challenge of integrating the Internet to be compatible with various Microsoft products. The biggest dilemmas were determining what should be incorporated into the existing Microsoft products, what should be packaged as new products, and how should the Windows Operating System support the Internet. He gives frequent examples of how the other competing computer industry giants were able to succeed in the computer industry. A lot of success he points out was made through trial and error as well as learning from one’s mistakes. He talks about how Microsoft has learned from projects that have failed such as the Multiplan spreadsheet that went on to be developed into Microsoft Excel, and the Omega database that would become Microsoft Access. One suggestion that Mr. Gates makes in achieving company success is by
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the culture, the internal, and the external factors in an organization. Our job is to examine the entirety of the organization. That would include the structural and environmental elements that effect the operation of the business. We will also take an in depth look at the perspectives of employees, managers, owners, and clientele.
The four functions of management across every organization include organizing, planning, controlling, and leading. In order for an organization to be effective and successful in the ever-changing business world, these four functions of management are necessary. However, the performance of these functions in any organization is usually affected by both internal and external factors. While examples of internal factors include diversity, ethics, and innovation, external factors include technological advancements and globalization. An analysis of the internal factors shows that ethics impacts leadership and controlling functions of management as diversity and creativity affect leading and organizing functions.
Team B has decided to do our paper on the United States Postal Service. The reason for this is that this service utilizes each of the functions such as globalization, the newest technology, the best innovations, and diversity and ethics combined all in one great service we each use on a daily basis in one way or another. During the reading of this paper, one will find that the following has been researched and discussed: the explanation of the four functions of management, also how the following factors affect the four functions of management: Globalization, Technology, Innovation, Diversity, and Ethics. As we look at these factors, we will learn how the Postal Service gets the mail from point
in order to create possibly the most effective and versatile workforce of any corporation in existence. To study Microsoft's way of doing business is to look at the company from many angles, from a managerial and organizational standpoint to its process of developing products and services for its customers and its competitive environment. The purpose of this paper is to analyze Microsoft from a strategic fit