The Microsoft Way: The Real Story Of How The Company Outsmarts Its Competition by Stross Randall E. (1997-08-18) Paperback

by Randall E. Stross

Stross, an academic business historian, was given unlimited access to interview Microsoft employees and managers and to rifle through most of Microsoft's corporate records. His main conclusion? That Microsoft's phenomenal success is due in large part to its consistent insistence on hiring the smartest people, and that much Microsoft bashing is reflective of an anti-intellectual strain in American culture. Whether you idolize or despise Microsoft, this book is well worth reading--especially if you are in any way responsible for hiring the best and the brightest for your company.

Genres: Business, Technology, History, Nonfiction, Computers, Management

Paperback

First published November 1, 1996

Reviews

[Darius · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a very well-researched book. Stross provides details for all his points and conclusions. This is not a book by someone can can see no good in MSFT, nor by someone who can see no bad in MSFT.
An excellent book if one wants to understand what makes a great software firm.

[Dave Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this, I think, around Y2K when I was in the ISU MBA program. I thought I was going to have to do more in-depth examination of a company of my choice later on. (If it matters, I chose IBM.) This was also a timeframe when I had the most respect from Microsoft products and the company overall. Mr. Stross does a good job examining the beginnings and transformation of (still) the world's biggest software publisher. He gives due credit for the oft-overlooked technological innovations of MS (e.g. big files, multi-media encylopedias, etc.). Most fascinating for me was how MS took down the dominant plays such as Lotus (Remember 123?) and Netscape. This is not, as popular naysayers suggest, due to using its clout to crush smaller innovators like some software Borg. Rather, it's through (mostly) brilliant execution of its business plan that gave away Internet Explorer. Microsoft Office (and components) are generally sold one box at a time. However, this is not to say that MS does not have warts and shortcomings of its own. It's sluggish and downright weird inability to recognize the internet as a force to be reckoned with, uneven handling of monopoly legal defense, and other snafus are examined. Mr. Stross had unprecedented access to Microsoft internal records in the preparation of this book. This is probably due to the respect Bill Gates had for Mr. Stross' earlier work on Steve Jobs and Apple. An interesting book that covers MS up until (pre) Y2K when it was still in its heydey.

[ActionScientist · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Chapter 13 "Pre-emptive Attack" which covers the period I was involved in developing early software for the nascent Internet.

I've always rather admired the company, especially for winning the Windows vs. OS/2 'war', and even though it's giantly bloated now.

I choose to promote Windows rather than uBuntu Linux in Africa because Microsoft are the only company with the stomach to make a big enough investment here, whereas uBuntu is a British company using an African concept for marketing purposes. Whether "they" ever will is the question that begs an answer. I'd just love to see an improvement on OLPC's effort: make a million Microsoft Netbooks with WinXP, pick a spot, then see what happens. I volunteer to be a field evangelist and application designer, these are special circumstances.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Very positive review of Microsoft and how it competes - fairly. While I agree with his basic premise, I think he understates the power of tying other successes to the victory of Windows. Written with an historical eye, which lifts it above most biz books."

[Thomas Beek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book increased my appreciation for journalists who are honest people, and a well-told story. I really enjoyed reading this book and I learned a lot.

[Lori Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A should-read company profile for knowledge workers, managers, directors, C-levels, and entrepreneurs.

[Richie Arie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spellbinding