Bulacan State University City of Malolos
Bulacan State University City of Malolos, Bulacan College of Business Administration A case study concerning the Business and Marketing strategy of Microsoft Submitted by: Carballo, Glaiza R. Gonzales, Jeah Marie Y. Mendoza, Ralph Danielle B. Payongayong, Arlene F. Vinuya, Joana Jessica C. Submitted to: Ms. Ma. Lourdes Cervantes December 10, 2012 1. Summary of the case The Microsoft case describes how the company was built and gives an insight in their human resource policies, from the early 1980’s until 2001.
Bill Gates created a competitive work environment in which there was an enormous drive to achievement. Microsoft employed a hiring policy and pushed employees and improves their dedication to the company in exchange with the opportunity to receive part of their salary in the company shares, by doing so Microsoft ensures that their employees feel connected to the business. The childhood friends, Bill Gates and Allen grew up together with the desire for computer programming.
They are greatly motivated to become more successful and create a name in the world of their expertise and passion. Microsoft Corporation is a multinational company where it has its headquarters in Redmond, Washington. The company was known on April 4, 1975, where Bill Gates was the CEO at that time. In 1979, its headquarters was moved to Bellevue, Washington. Microsoft became famous in the market with the MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows OS’s, and the Microsoft mouse and press. Then after that Paul Allen resigned because of his Hodgkin’s disease.
Microsoft entered in the market with their Microsoft Office, and achieved their greatest award in the gaming industry with the Xbox 360 and also in the e-markets with Zune and the Windows Mobile. There are two things that are essential in the marketing strategy of Microsoft, and that is variety and addition of product which is in demand on that time. Microsoft’s vision is to make the best strategy to become successful in business. They want to have some touch of different countries’ cultures, for the collaboration of ideas, skills and strategies.
Their vision is to understand the customs and backgrounds of different countries for them to provide what they need. Microsoft focuses on establishing connections by means of hiring people which have all the skills and abilities to be a certified Microsoft employee, and it doesn’t matter what age they are. Another marketing strategy is to build connection with different schools, colleges, and professional organizations, and to allow children to experience the technology that Microsoft has.
They also have a worldwide program which allows high school girls to participate in session, which has discussions and workshops. And in terms of workers, they are not rewarded or paid unless they created something new or did a new job. In addition, Microsoft provides their leaders with training and Global Diversity and Inclusion (GD&I). They are trained very well for them to deliver and practice their members or employees with the best management skills. They also have Employee Resource Groups and Employee Networks (ERGS).
With that, it will increase their sales and awareness of the employees. The best strength of Microsoft is that they know the customer’s needs, wants, demands, priorities and they are really working on it and very dedicated to their works. They also work with certified, qualified and trained minorities, disabled persons, who own businesses, women and small businesses who want services from Microsoft. These are the marketing strategies of Microsoft; they want to build good connections, not only on company to employee relationship but also company to customer relationship.
The collaboration of these strategies and relations is the best way of Microsoft to be on top and maintain their status. 2. Main problem of the case How can Microsoft maintain their current status in the global market? Microsoft believed that in order to develop outstanding software, attracting the right person was crucial. They tend to acquire various workforces that can combine all the ideas, culture, creativities and different views together as a company. They seek to understand different ways of life and background of societies, thus meeting the exact demands of their patrons.
Microsoft believes that through awareness in different cultures, the company gains a sustainable advantage to the global market. In line with it, Microsoft does it’s best to create a corporate culture which gives them a borader business environment. The focus of their Human Resource policy is to attract intelligent, technical people. They hire the world’s greatest minds, having the right skills and capabilities, no matter how young they are. Microsoft let the children with excellent grades interact with the technology that Microsoft has to offer.
Also, they expose this young generation to different technology workshops and will get to discuss their future. In that way, Microsoft will have a long list of possible candidates who will look for a career in an industry where Microsoft belongs. 3. Sub-problems of the case. 3. 1. Since large corporations and other businesses are now engaging with Microsoft, it has greater effects to small businesses. 3. 2. People who have been trained or have received training from Microsoft may not become Microsoft employees. 4. Facts of the case 3. 1 Microsoft has been an ever-present organization for more than 20 years.
It has impacted the business world by making business processes easier and faster. The vision statement of the marketing strategy of Microsoft is to deliver outstanding products that will result in outstanding business. That is why large businesses are attracted to them and most of them are now engaged to it. Large businesses take this opportunity to have the greater advantage over small businesses that are not yet involved to it and it has a possibility for them to be left behind of those businesses that are not using their kind of system in their company. y the help of Microsoft, most companies may serve their customers more efficiently and effectively. Through Microsoft, even small businesses can have the same benefit as what large corporations have experienced. Due to these, customers will patronize businesses which can give them a convenient access. 3. 2. Microsoft runs a worldwide program in which high school students engage with Microsoft employees. In the program, the students get to discuss their future and experience technology workshops.
Aside from that Microsoft also lets children of different grades interact with the technology that Microsoft has. The company imparts to these trainees basic computer knowledge and how to’s, and in return, Microsoft expects that the trainees will give back to the company by working in Microsoft. However, there is no assurance that the trainees will become Microsoft employees and share the wisdom that they have learned through the trainings given by Microsoft. 5. Alternative courses of action 3. 1
Microsoft will associate with the government to be able to protect the rights of small enterprises for them not be left behind by those large business who take advantage of the benefits that they get to Microsoft. The government will impose laws regarding this matter. 3. 2 The trainings Microsoft offers must come with the condition that the trainee that will avail of the program will work for Microsoft for a specific period of time. 6. Recommendation Man is viewed as the most valuable asset of an organization. He can be a resource and an investment to a certain company at the same time.
For Microsoft to retain their current position on the global market, it must seek for a wider range of linkages among schools and organizations for possible candidates of future employees. Microsoft must look for individuals whom are highly motivated and have the clear vision of goals of the company. Continuous acquisition of individuals qualifying in the skill requirement identified by Microsoft can lead to an outstanding performance and great results. Microsoft must not forget that their employees are the foundation of the company’s great success.
