“Unlocking value at Microsoft“???Specifically, read the extremely caustic comments.
More people who blindly want to pursue an MBA and spend over a $100K (including opportunity cost) need to ask themselves exactly what they’re getting out of it. Don’t get me wrong, I have respect for both Microsoft and Kellogg, but why would you need an MBA to work in this field of work?
Also:
Dear Fortune-N and smaller companies:
Please be mindful of whom you hire to perform product management/evangelist roles in your organization. Consumer empathy in an industry like Microsoft’s includes having a deep understanding of the technology you’re spending so much time and money to research and develop. You really can’t afford to screw it up. Hire for passion to get it done, not for credentials. And certainly not credentials tied solely to P&L management, because that will soon be outsourced to the next generation of enterprise resource software.Thanks!
Ash
Giving this guy the benefit of the doubt and assuming his journal is an unsuccessful attempt at humor, one still has to wonder what the deal is over at M$. Do you really need an FTE to explain to clients why they need to upgrade Office? Part of me feels– it’s not this guy’s fault at all. If the new software were good enough that it didn’t need to be marketed and “sold” so much, he could spend his time doing more interesting things, like exploring new top line revenue strategies…
When it comes down to it, Microsoft has put itself in a hard place. Mature products like Microsoft Office have fulfilled the stated need of its users, and no one is desperate for the new bells and whistles in the new versions. Perhaps there is, however, unarticulated need and M$ can greatly benefit from educating its end users about new workflows that will decrease their wasted time by N%. Maybe?
But my-oh-my, what vitriolic statements from my geek brethren in response to this article. Chill, guys!
I’ve met a few PMs and Evangelists from Microsoft and I’ll agree with the commenters that this guy is the exception rather than the rule. He’s obviously new to his job and still spewing out his MBA-like business talk. Once he’s a bit more seasoned he’ll look like less of an idiot.