The Focus of Microsoft Corporation and Its Growing Force

Founded in 1975, Microsoft Corporation is a world leader in the production of software, the provision of services and the development of Internet technologies for personal computers and servers. Microsoft Corporation develops and releases a wide range of software products. These include desktop and network operating systems, server applications for client-server environments, desktop business applications and office applications for users, interactive programs and games, tools for working on the Internet and development tools. In addition, Microsoft offers interactive (online) services, publishes books on computer topics, produces peripheral equipment for computers, is engaged in research and development of new computer technologies.

In addition to the software already mentioned, Microsoft is also engaged in the production of various consumer electronics and software for such devices. So, the company releases Xbox game consoles, which are the main competitor to the Sony PlayStation, which is made by the Japanese Sony. In addition, Microsoft produces numerous office equipment for PCs - keyboards, computer mice, speakers, etc. Recently, the company also began to produce various gadgets - smartphones, tablet computers, etc. In particular, the high-tech giant produces its own Surface tablets, and also produces Lumia smartphones, for which they even bought a mobile business from Nokia in 2013. Nevertheless, the main activity remains software development, which brings up to 80% of all revenues and is a key segment in the business structure. The corporation develops, licenses and supports a wide range of software products, services and devices that provide new features, convenience and added value to people's lives. Platforms and tools help increase small business productivity, increase business competitiveness and public sector efficiency. Microsoft generates revenue through licensing and supporting a range of software products, offering a wide range of cloud and other services to consumers and enterprises, by designing, manufacturing and selling devices that integrate with our cloud services, and by providing relevant online advertising to a global audience.

In many ways, determining the current state of the global information technology market, Microsoft Corporation is one of the main generators of its growth. For several years, Microsoft worked on a single platform, the components of which would not only solve the client’s business problems, but would ideally integrate with each other, providing almost everything necessary for the implementation of the “electronic nervous system” of the enterprise. And now, the use of Microsoft software allows a modern enterprise to establish a corporate standard for software and adhere to it, thereby avoiding a lot of unnecessary problems, and working with common data standards both within the corporate network and on the Internet. The primary objective of the restructuring program is to prepare the company to reduce its monopoly power and increase competition in all areas of activity, from hand-held organizers to software that works in networks, servers and does not need a personal computer. The heads of large trade departments will now be able to actively plan the products they need and sell them to their respective customers, which will allow managers to more clearly and efficiently determine the priorities of each trade department, set goals and be responsible for the results achieved. While each department will perform its own functions, members of various groups will remain, as before, partners in the common cause and will be able to interact in solving common problems. For example, the individual consumer and corporate customer service divisions will jointly develop marketing programs. These units are united by several core processes, infrastructure, corporate governance and technical base. Finally, in their work, the units will proceed from the same properties of the main products: for example, all versions of the Windows 2000 operating system must be compatible with the main applications, such as Excel spreadsheets. But taking these properties into account, each department has the right to develop Windows variants for its client groups that differ from each other both in appearance and in functions.

Microsoft produces products that can work with each other. A consumer purchasing Microsoft Office knows that all applications are compatible and will interact on a Windows-based system. The company is developing additional features for its key products. There are many other programs that are also important, but Microsoft today prefers to improve its core products. Part of this strategy is the company's desire to invest not in the development of expensive add-ons, but in improving the functionality and networking of Windows. About 30% of the money allocated for research and development, the company invests in projects to expand system compatibility. Microsoft is a company with a clear focus on tasks, its organization is more like a complex interweaving of teams and projects than a clear vertical orientation. There are no internal organizational boundaries in it, but all together are trying to cope with difficulties.

The Corporation successfully directs the activities of people working in various departments on various programs in order to overcome the problems facing the company as a whole. Thanks to such an organization, a variety of teams can act simultaneously, and not sequentially, which speeds up the development process and avoids disagreements between employees. The production process turns into a well-thought-out action plan for the release of compatible products. Microsoft reserves the right to other companies to manage secondary work and uses modern technology to come into close contact with people - now not employees, but partners - in performing assigned tasks. A network approach to work, involving a complex interweaving of various problems and performers, leaves employees with enough freedom for their own actions. Affiliate companies are often offered to take on as much work (secondary, of course) as they can do. The development of the network approach is so great that, for example, the San Francisco-based consulting firm Business Marketing Group does nothing except to help enterprises form a strategic partnership with Microsoft. As an established leader in the software and accessibility market, Microsoft seeks to implement the principle of universal accessibility in the field of innovative technologies and is developing, promoting, and introducing technologies optimized to meet the individual needs of users.

MSF Team Model

The development team is the main strategic resource of the company that determines the success of the project. In traditional practice, teams are organized hierarchically - from the leader to lower-level employees, for example: With this organization of work, the weight of the opinion of an individual employee is determined not by his competencies and knowledge, but by his position in the hierarchy. The history of the creation of MSF dates back to 1993. Microsoft was already a leader in the IT field and was looking for ways to increase the efficiency and impact of its projects. MSF offers a more democratic team model, and therefore does not experience the problems of the classic. The project team at MSF is a team of peers. They share responsibility and freely exchange experience and information. Inside the team there are role clusters (roles) that reflect the functional responsibilities of specific specialists. Each role has its own goals and objectives, and all of them are considered equal and equally important. Roles complement each other and together serve a single goal - creating a quality product.

Business Analyst

This is the main intermediary between the development team and the client. He must understand in detail the needs of the customer, determine the business value of the product and understand what kind of functionality is needed in the program. He transforms this information into specific definitions and quality requirements and brings them to the developer. We can assume that the business analyst is the representative of the client in the team. He manages the product to meet the needs of the business and customer expectations.

Project Manager

In the MSF model, the main task of the project manager is to control the work schedule and budget. He is responsible for ensuring that all tasks are completed in a timely manner and do not go beyond the budget. Engaged in work planning and compiles reports, evaluates risks and develops measures to reduce them. Close cooperation with other roles of the project allows him to keep abreast of events and quickly solve administrative problems.