on Microsoft's new strategy

I had missed this original article on Fortune, missed it on Techcrunch, but spotted it on Didier Beck's blog (always a great source of information).

I always find it interesting how people reinvent their strategy, and how they involve their team in shaping the thinking, but also the execution. Actually I started reading (almost finished) EXECUTION by Larry Bossidy last night in the train to Deauville (yep you all win :), Indeed, the book is simple enough but stresses a couple of points: linking people with strategy and operations; debate and conversation is good as it fosters critical thinking and buy-in. And that 50,000 feet helicopter views are better left to dreamers. Modern CEOs need to be strongly connected to their business.

This article is a good illustration on why Microsoft is doing a number of right things. Now internal issues are never enough when you have to deal with a very competitive marketplace.

Last thougths on this article: the total shift of the web industry to ad-based business models. indeed... if you think "outside in", what we all are doing is competing for mind-share or 'time-share", currently allocated to leisure. It's not raelly extensible, and it eyeballs are shifting from the printed press & TV to online sites, then that's where the money of large advertisers should go. The article has a few numbers.

Finally, interesting note on the source of power and energy in the future. I hadn't thought about that myself yet. I should probably subscribe to Fortune Magazine...

update: the original Ray Ozzie memo that is a must-read and re-read.

update2: additional thoughts by Don Dodge.