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@ 2013/07/15This week’s Microsoft’s restructuring will make one person feel a lot more secure on his iron throne.
Although it is touted as a way the Vole can become more flexible, the restructuring makes it difficult for anyone to challenge CEO Steve Ballmer.
Since he took over from Bill Gates, Ballmer has presided over a court which has become increasingly uppity. Products have died because they failed to fit into whatever political game a Volish eunuch was playing at the time.
Many blamed Ballmer for either not being in control of the vying political factions, or being too autocratic and stifling innovation.
This week’s restructuring saw Ballmer stressing the importance of improving internal collaboration and eliminating redundancies.
What it actually means is less leeway for the different businesses to act like individual kingdoms and pursue their own agendas.
The restructuring gives Microsoft a more streamlined, top-down approach to its strategy and operations.
Ballmer now has a stronger grip on effectively demoted sections of his Kingdom and there is less likely to be someone waiting in the wings to off him with a glass of poisoned port.
David Smith, an analyst with Gartner, pointed out to Reuters that the restructuring left no heir apparent or any succession strategy.
Ballmer not only plans to be King for a jolly long time, but is not keen for anyone to knife him in the back, or a successor as the rest of the industry calls it.
Ballmer, 57, has been in charge of the Vole for a decade and must be planning to stay another ten years.
This is bad news for shareholders. Ballmer’s Microsoft decade has been one of share price stagnation. It is possible that in his own head, that might be something to do with the corporate in-fighting which characterised this period.
Certainly with this restructuring he no longer has that excuse. If it goes horribly wrong he has made himself the one responsible.
Although it is touted as a way the Vole can become more flexible, the restructuring makes it difficult for anyone to challenge CEO Steve Ballmer.
Since he took over from Bill Gates, Ballmer has presided over a court which has become increasingly uppity. Products have died because they failed to fit into whatever political game a Volish eunuch was playing at the time.
Many blamed Ballmer for either not being in control of the vying political factions, or being too autocratic and stifling innovation.
This week’s restructuring saw Ballmer stressing the importance of improving internal collaboration and eliminating redundancies.
What it actually means is less leeway for the different businesses to act like individual kingdoms and pursue their own agendas.
The restructuring gives Microsoft a more streamlined, top-down approach to its strategy and operations.
Ballmer now has a stronger grip on effectively demoted sections of his Kingdom and there is less likely to be someone waiting in the wings to off him with a glass of poisoned port.
David Smith, an analyst with Gartner, pointed out to Reuters that the restructuring left no heir apparent or any succession strategy.
Ballmer not only plans to be King for a jolly long time, but is not keen for anyone to knife him in the back, or a successor as the rest of the industry calls it.
Ballmer, 57, has been in charge of the Vole for a decade and must be planning to stay another ten years.
This is bad news for shareholders. Ballmer’s Microsoft decade has been one of share price stagnation. It is possible that in his own head, that might be something to do with the corporate in-fighting which characterised this period.
Certainly with this restructuring he no longer has that excuse. If it goes horribly wrong he has made himself the one responsible.
