You want to know who didn 't like Steve Ballmer 's tenure at Microsoft?

[G+_Stephen Styffe]

Originally shared by Stephen Styffe

 

You want to know who didn't like Steve Ballmer's tenure at Microsoft?  Mike Elgan is an outspoken critic of Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates, and in his latest article, explains why Gates should be kicked from Microsoft's board.

 

Do you think Mike's analysis of Ballmer's blunders is right? 

I usually agree with Mike, but this time, I don't. If someone only looks at the mistakes of a CEO like Ballmer, then what you would get is an impression that the CEO was incompetent. But I don't think so. Sure, Ballmer had his times where he screwed up big time, but he also was a charismatic leader and the most devoted person in the world to Microsoft. Second only to Gates, you couldn't find anyone else on earth who loved Microsoft as much as Steve did. No one, and I think there's something to be said about that. 

 

#Microsoft   #SteveBallmer  

http://www.datamation.com/commentary/why-microsoft-should-fire-bill-gates-too-1.html

[G+_Garage Geek Guy]

No one can challenge Ballmer's charisma and devotion, but having your heart in the right place doesn't necessarily mean you are good at your job.

 

We also don't know if someone else could have done better in his place. Going up against the likes of Apple and Google may have been impossible at the time.

 

The one thing I do question is the amount of resources Microsoft has put into search and now into mobile devices, when it's pretty clear both are almost hopeless causes.

 

Instead of just creating new markets like Apple and Google have, Microsoft seems to prefer the path of most resistance.

 

[G+_Stephen Styffe]

Lonnie Honeycutt Very valid points. Microsoft seemed to like Apple's business strategy of integrated (a.k.a. proprietary) technology and services...Microsoft liked it so much in fact that they tried to copy it...and failed. 

 

That may have been Microsoft's biggest mistake, which I'm not sure we can put all of the blame on Ballmer for. 

 

But the point I was trying to make about Ballmer's dedication was exactly that. Dedication is key. I'm not sure that there would have been a better choice for a CEO on that front because I can't think of many people who wouldn't have jumped the ship after numerous failures by Microsoft's leadership.  It takes dedication and faith in Microsoft to successfully guide it out of the dark, and I think that Ballmer's dedication to Microsoft and faith in Microsoft that kept it relevant for this long. 

[G+_Garage Geek Guy]

Steven Styffe What's the thing you miss the most when you are in the dark? Is it faith and dedication, or is it your vision? Or at a minimum the courage to try a new path when the well-worn one in front of you is blocked.

 

I don't know what the next big thing is. Home automation, robotics, operating systems for vehicles, who knows?

 

Google had the vision to give great stuff away for free, then figure out how to monetize it later. They've had their share of failures, but have also had the wisdom to cut their losses early.

 

Apple is killing it in markets that didn't exist before, at least not in a palatable form.

 

Vision.

[G+_Stephen Styffe]

Lonnie Honeycutt Very valid points.

 

I just think that it's so easy to get lost in looking at all of the screw ups of Ballmer that we forget that he was a major source of motivation for employees at Microsoft. Had it not been for his enthusiasm and sense of optimism (whether it was justified or not is up for debate), a lot of very good talent at Microsoft would have left by now. There is also something to be said about that.

 

With that said, you've made some good points.