Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? Description

In July 2010, Microsoft, the global leader in software, services, and solutions, announced record revenue of US$62.48 billion for the year ending June 30, 2010, an increase of 7% from the previous year. This came as a relief to investors, given that the previous year had seen the company report its first-ever annual drop in sales. Founded in 1975, Microsoft's software pervaded computers worldwide. The company had traditionally been regarded as being on the cutting edge of software and services. However, for some time-particularly since the middle of the last decade-it had been increasingly criticised for having had the opportunity for massive disruptive potential in the market but repeatedly allowing it to slip away. Its huge employee base of bright and talented engineers had not kept up with the creativity and innovation displayed by its competitors, whether it was Apple's iPod or iPad, Google's search engine, Nintendo's Wii, Amazon's Kindle, or social networking services such as Facebook and Twitter. Despite its undisputed financial success, Microsoft was being described as having become a "clumsy, uncompetitive innovator". In a tangible reflection of this concern, on 26 May 2010, Microsoft's position as the technology industry's most valuable player was overtaken for the first time in many years, when Apple exceeded the company's US$219.2 billion market capitalisation by almost US$3 billion. Then on 4 October 2010, Goldman Sachs downgraded Microsoft's stock, which it had supported since the company's initial public offering in 1986. Why was Microsoft no longer creating the truly disruptive and breakthrough technological products and services that the company used to pride itself on? How could the company once again regain its position as the powerhouse of technology innovation?

Case Description Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

Strategic Managment Tools Used in Case Study Analysis of Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

STEP 1. Problem Identification in Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study

STEP 2. External Environment Analysis - PESTEL / PEST / STEP Analysis of Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study

STEP 3. Industry Specific / Porter Five Forces Analysis of Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study

STEP 4. Evaluating Alternatives / SWOT Analysis of Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study

STEP 5. Porter Value Chain Analysis / VRIO / VRIN Analysis Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study

STEP 6. Recommendations Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study

STEP 7. Basis of Recommendations for Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study

Case Analysis of Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? is a Harvard Business (HBR) Case Study on Organizational Development , Texas Business School provides HBR case study assignment help for just $9. Texas Business School(TBS) case study solution is based on HBR Case Study Method framework, TBS expertise & global insights. Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? is designed and drafted in a manner to allow the HBR case study reader to analyze a real-world problem by putting reader into the position of the decision maker. Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study will help professionals, MBA, EMBA, and leaders to develop a broad and clear understanding of casecategory challenges. Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? will also provide insight into areas such as – wordlist , strategy, leadership, sales and marketing, and negotiations.

Case Study Solutions Background Work

Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study solution is focused on solving the strategic and operational challenges the protagonist of the case is facing. The challenges involve – evaluation of strategic options, key role of Organizational Development, leadership qualities of the protagonist, and dynamics of the external environment. The challenge in front of the protagonist, of Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?, is to not only build a competitive position of the organization but also to sustain it over a period of time.

Strategic Management Tools Used in Case Study Solution

The Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study solution requires the MBA, EMBA, executive, professional to have a deep understanding of various strategic management tools such as SWOT Analysis, PESTEL Analysis / PEST Analysis / STEP Analysis, Porter Five Forces Analysis, Go To Market Strategy, BCG Matrix Analysis, Porter Value Chain Analysis, Ansoff Matrix Analysis, VRIO / VRIN and Marketing Mix Analysis.

Texas Business School Approach to Organizational Development Solutions

In the Texas Business School, Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study solution – following strategic tools are used - SWOT Analysis, PESTEL Analysis / PEST Analysis / STEP Analysis, Porter Five Forces Analysis, Go To Market Strategy, BCG Matrix Analysis, Porter Value Chain Analysis, Ansoff Matrix Analysis, VRIO / VRIN and Marketing Mix Analysis.

We have additionally used the concept of supply chain management and leadership framework to build a comprehensive case study solution for the case – Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

Step 1 – Problem Identification of Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? - Harvard Business School Case Study

The first step to solve HBR Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study solution is to identify the problem present in the case. The problem statement of the case is provided in the beginning of the case where the protagonist is contemplating various options in the face of numerous challenges that Microsoft Microsoft's is facing right now. Even though the problem statement is essentially – “Organizational Development” challenge but it has impacted by others factors such as communication in the organization, uncertainty in the external environment, leadership in Microsoft Microsoft's, style of leadership and organization structure, marketing and sales, organizational behavior, strategy, internal politics, stakeholders priorities and more.

Step 2 – External Environment Analysis

Texas Business School approach of case study analysis – Conclusion, Reasons, Evidences - provides a framework to analyze every HBR case study. It requires conducting robust external environmental analysis to decipher evidences for the reasons presented in the Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?.

The external environment analysis of Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? will ensure that we are keeping a tab on the macro-environment factors that are directly and indirectly impacting the business of the firm.

What is PESTEL Analysis? Briefly Explained

PESTEL stands for political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors that impact the external environment of firm in Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study. PESTEL analysis of " Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?" can help us understand why the organization is performing badly, what are the factors in the external environment that are impacting the performance of the organization, and how the organization can either manage or mitigate the impact of these external factors.

How to do PESTEL / PEST / STEP Analysis? What are the components of PESTEL Analysis?

As mentioned above PESTEL Analysis has six elements – political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal. All the six elements are explained in context with Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? macro-environment and how it impacts the businesses of the firm.

How to do PESTEL Analysis for Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

To do comprehensive PESTEL analysis of case study – Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? , we have researched numerous components under the six factors of PESTEL analysis.

Political Factors that Impact Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

Political factors impact seven key decision making areas – economic environment, socio-cultural environment, rate of innovation & investment in research & development, environmental laws, legal requirements, and acceptance of new technologies.

Policy Making Impact on Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

Government policies have significant impact on the business environment of any country. The firm in “ Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? ” needs to navigate these policy decisions to create either an edge for itself or reduce the negative impact of the policy as far as possible.

Data safety laws – The countries in which Microsoft Microsoft's is operating, firms are required to store customer data within the premises of the country. Microsoft Microsoft's needs to restructure its IT policies to accommodate these changes. In the EU countries, firms are required to make special provision for privacy issues and other laws.

Competition Regulations – Numerous countries have strong competition laws both regarding the monopoly conditions and day to day fair business practices. Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? has numerous instances where the competition regulations aspects can be scrutinized.

Import restrictions on products – Before entering the new market, Microsoft Microsoft's in case study Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?" should look into the import restrictions that may be present in the prospective market.

Export restrictions on products – Apart from direct product export restrictions in field of technology and agriculture, a number of countries also have capital controls. Microsoft Microsoft's in case study “ Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? ” should look into these export restrictions policies.

Foreign Direct Investment Policies – Government policies favors local companies over international policies, Microsoft Microsoft's in case study “ Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? ” should understand in minute details regarding the Foreign Direct Investment policies of the prospective market.

Taxation & Regulation Impact on Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

Corporate Taxes – The rate of taxes is often used by governments to lure foreign direct investments or increase domestic investment in a certain sector. Corporate taxation can be divided into two categories – taxes on profits and taxes on operations. Taxes on profits number is important for companies that already have a sustainable business model, while taxes on operations is far more significant for companies that are looking to set up new plants or operations.

Tariffs – Chekout how much tariffs the firm needs to pay in the “ Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? ” case study. The level of tariffs will determine the viability of the business model that the firm is contemplating. If the tariffs are high then it will be extremely difficult to compete with the local competitors. But if the tariffs are between 5-10% then Microsoft Microsoft's can compete against other competitors.

Government Scheme & Subsidies Impact on Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

Research and Development Subsidies and Policies – Governments often provide tax breaks and other incentives for companies to innovate in various sectors of priority. Managers at Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study have to assess whether their business can benefit from such government assistance and subsidies.

Consumer protection – Different countries have different consumer protection laws. Managers need to clarify not only the consumer protection laws in advance but also legal implications if the firm fails to meet any of them.

Political System & Stability, and its Impact on Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

Political System and Its Implications – Different political systems have different approach to free market and entrepreneurship. Managers need to assess these factors even before entering the market.

Freedom of Press is critical for fair trade and transparency. Countries where freedom of press is not prevalent there are high chances of both political and commercial corruption.

Corruption level – Microsoft Microsoft's needs to assess the level of corruptions both at the official level and at the market level, even before entering a new market. To tackle the menace of corruption – a firm should have a clear SOP that provides managers at each level what to do when they encounter instances of either systematic corruption or bureaucrats looking to take bribes from the firm.

Independence of judiciary – It is critical for fair business practices. If a country doesn’t have independent judiciary then there is no point entry into such a country for business.

Government attitude towards trade unions – Different political systems and government have different attitude towards trade unions and collective bargaining. The firm needs to assess – its comfort dealing with the unions and regulations regarding unions in a given market or industry. If both are on the same page then it makes sense to enter, otherwise it doesn’t.

Economic Factors that Impact Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

Social Factors that Impact Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

Technological Factors that Impact Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

Environmental Factors that Impact Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

Legal Factors that Impact Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?

Step 3 – Industry Specific Analysis

What is Porter Five Forces Analysis

PESTEL stands for political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors that impact the external environment of firm in Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study. PESTEL analysis of " Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out?" can help us understand why the organization is performing badly, what are the factors in the external environment that are impacting the performance of the organization, and how the organization can either manage or mitigate the impact of these external factors.

Step 4 – SWOT Analysis / Internal Environment Analysis

Step 5 – Porter Value Chain / VRIO / VRIN Analysis

Step 6 – Evaluating Alternatives & Recommendations

Step 7 – Basis for Recommendations

References :: Microsoft: Is the Creative Spark Burning Out? case study solution