Just two days after announcing the delay of Windows Vista, Microsoft has made another significant move in the tech world. The software giant has just announced a major reshuffle in its Windows division, only 48 hours after disappointing the public with the decision to postpone the release of Windows Vista.
Accordingly, Steven J. Sinofsky, a long-time Microsoft Office executive, has been promoted to oversee the entire Windows and Windows Live teams—essentially controlling the future of the Vista operating system. Meanwhile, James E. Allchin, a long-standing Windows executive, will “step down” at the end of this year, citing retirement as the reason.
Specifically, Sinofsky will focus on planning future versions of Windows, while Jill Allchin will work closely with another executive, Brian Valentine, to finalize Windows Vista. Ben Fathi, a current executive in charge of storage and file systems, will lead the Security Technology Division (Security is one of the reasons Microsoft has provided for the delay in releasing Vista).
New Dynamics
Analysts believe that Microsoft’s latest move indicates that the company’s management has realized the need to improve its product release system and relationships with major partners. Among these partners are computer manufacturers—who have been quite disappointed with Microsoft’s erratic approach to releasing Vista.
Moreover, Microsoft has come to understand that it needs to be agile and responsive in the fight against new online competitors, such as Google, while still maintaining its traditional core products. “They have brought in the brightest stars into the management team. Gradually, they will build an effective executive team that can meet the demands of the new market,” one analyst noted.
Microsoft announced the personnel changes yesterday in an email sent to employees by Kevin R. Johnson, head of the Platform and Services Division. “These changes are aimed at making us more agile, youthful, and open to new ideas like software + services, while ensuring a bright future for us,” Johnson wrote.
Top-Level Overhaul
The restructuring effort has been underway at Microsoft for quite some time: Last fall, CEO Steven A. Ballmer announced a major reorganization in the business division to encourage the motto “dare to think, dare to act, quick wins” and deliver the products and services consumers desire the most.
In reality, many Microsoft employees have begun to worry that the software giant is bogged down by its own size, as it faces competition from a wide array of sectors—from Google’s online products to Sony Corp.’s gaming.
Most analysts agree that this personnel shake-up in Windows is a smart move, as Microsoft is facing a saturated Windows market while competitors are growing stronger. However, it is still too early to conclude whether these restructuring efforts will help Microsoft compete successfully.
Destiny
