Comments on Mini-Microsoft: Recent Random Bits

Another field softie chiming in...Morale is crap b...

2005-09-19T01:01:00.000-07:00

Another field softie chiming in...

Morale is crap because the things that used to make good workers (hard work = good bonus and stock) isn't true anymore. I can work as hard as you like, but because I'm not political enough (i.e. don't work hard enough on getting my name out there) others get the fat bonuses and stock.

It's what happens when you change from a small, fast, agressive meritocracy into a slogging, large, middle-manager-driven company, and it started first with Services and is just now moving into other areas of the company.

I have to agree that MSFT is in a lot of trouble, ...

2005-08-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

I have to agree that MSFT is in a lot of trouble, as GOOG shoots.

I enjoy this blog-thanks.
My unbiased observation of working here.(Im an engineer in Premier services)

1)is that the culture has slowly slipped, the exitement that were doing something new and changing the world just isnt there...

2)The disgruntled employees are (generally speaking of course), 2nd and 3rd generation(1st cashed out), and have seen thier networth decline before they realized what hit 'em. Now that the Market has bounced back over the past 3 years. MSFT is a dead cow, part of the lifecycle of the company I suppose...

3)The new blood/college grads, are grateful to get a job, at a company with MSFT brand recognition. From thier perspective a great place to start, and they dont know what they missed(never fortunate enough to experience the true culture of this company before it thinned). Cant say Id blame 'em.

4)For those who think there are plenty of jobs in support, your sadly mistaken. From someone who's been in Premier Support over the past 5 years..and who has to explain to several execs why we(msft) screwed up a support escalation, because our folks in India are green, dont have the same sense of urgency, or just plain below par, its not pretty.

Sales/Relationship jobs will still be around for some time, but engineers---your the textile workers of the new erea.(sorry)

5)Some of the above can be attributed to culture, where we seem to be the "anal americans, obsessed w/email, returned calls etc... Culture Shock

6)Microsofts internal support is in India, ie you have problems w/support -you dial in and get Bangalore for 85% of all apps/os issues.

7)Huge apathy in support, they wont have jobs in a few years..who cares!

8)If your a software engineer, supporting an infrastructure, and can be replaced over the next few years.....you will! Microsoft has done a great PR job of slowly moving these roles oversees..unfortunate at the expense of customer service for our strategic accounts.

9)This company still has great benefits. If you dont like it- the job market has picked up-do yourself and everyone a favor and cut the cord.

10)Its no longer an experience, it a plain 'ole everyday, average, ordinary JOB. With politics, too many managers, and the impact that you will have on this company is limited(no matter how talented you are). I no longer brag about where I work, I still give it 110%(as opposed to 150% of years gone by).
Morale has truely tanked, and the metrics show it. I think its just part of the lifecycle of a company though..

If you want to make the impact that some on this board seem to hold on too so desperately, take the risk-start your own company, one that is in its infancy, or Google. Some thrive on being a big fish in a small pond vs vice versa. The risk of course *might be job security-but one you may have to take*

yikes, Google is about to open a can on Microsoft ...

2005-08-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

yikes, Google is about to open a can on Microsoft w/thier IM.

Im guessing thier strategy is take Msft while off guard. High employee dissention, low morale, and from what i understand from my friends at Microsoft,in Redmond a deep (but silent)apathy in making the execs richer.....

I think todays news off of MSNBC, has got me thinking time to stop hoping for a stock recovery, this cows run its course, and wont be revived.

Unfortunate, but I guess all good things must come to an end. Thanks Microsoft for some of the best years of my investment life.

(-non employee) shareholder or at least until the closing bell.

man, i feel like im at a funeral.

"Your comments about the Turkish i show just how c...

2005-07-04T10:17:00.000-07:00

"Your comments about the Turkish i show just how crap the quality of your work must be. Be part of the 'solution' you believe in so fanatically, resign, and good riddance."

Translation: please don't comment publicly about our numerous problems - outsiders are starting to notice.

No Microsophist, don't come back, and while you're...

2005-07-03T19:49:00.000-07:00

No Microsophist, don't come back, and while you're away take Mini-MSFT with you.

I haven't worked myself to the bone for this company for dumbasses like you to present your pathetically obvious reasoning to the world to inflate your 3.0 egos.

Your comments about the Turkish i show just how crap the quality of your work must be. Be part of the 'solution' you believe in so fanatically, resign, and good riddance.

And how exactly is the wonderful Sanaz going to mo...

2005-07-02T22:08:00.000-07:00

And how exactly is the wonderful Sanaz going to monetize start.com?

Advertizing? Puh-leeze.

Everyone should be able to state the business value of their product.

If they can't make it profitable in 2 years it should be scrapped - make this 5 for MSR.

Shane? Shane!

2005-07-02T18:23:00.000-07:00

Shane? Shane!

Come back Microsophist!

2005-07-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

Come back Microsophist!

Mini, It occurred to me that the termination of my...

2005-07-02T11:02:00.000-07:00

Mini,

It occurred to me that the termination of my blog might have you worried about your own well-being. So, for the record, the decision to turn off my blog was my own choice. Neither Microsoft nor anyone else knows my identity, as far as I am aware. I was not fired, rubbed out, or otherwise harassed.

Please keep up the good work. It is having a positive impact.

-Microsophist

Heh, looks like something is definitely going on w...

2005-07-01T23:59:00.000-07:00

Heh, looks like something is definitely going on with Claria...

And let's remember, Claria's former name was Gator...

2005-07-01T05:53:00.000-07:00

And let's remember, Claria's former name was Gator . . .

Yeah, that's one of the products I want to tell people we develop . . .

what do you make of the claria deal? also some guy...

2005-06-30T17:42:00.000-07:00

what do you make of the claria deal? also some guy is trying to set up some kind of union to protest stack ranking? what's up wiht that?

Claria?! You have got to be kidding me.Of all the ...

2005-06-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

Claria?! You have got to be kidding me.

Of all the odious 'market research' data firms out there, we have to buy the most reviled spyware company of them all?

What the hell is going on?

"C'mon, you don't think being publically removed f...

2005-06-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

"C'mon, you don't think being publically removed from direct authority over the next big version of Windows isn't enough of a career killer?"

At what point do we look at the never ending series of fuckups and delays that equal Longhorn and conclude that accountability should be taken at the top - i.e. Alchin?

C'mon, you don't think being publically removed fr...

2005-06-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

C'mon, you don't think being publically removed from direct authority over the next big version of Windows isn't enough of a career killer? He's not going to wind up in a position with that kind of power and responsibility again, I'd bet, but that doesn't make him a complete waste of space. Smaller team, smaller charter, different goals, he might be great.

That's outrageous! What would happen to us if we h...

2005-06-29T17:32:00.000-07:00

That's outrageous! What would happen to us if we had sub-3.0 'reviews' several years running?

Mgt, fire him and fire others like him too!

Sigh, he's not being canned, just given a cushy jo...

2005-06-29T17:27:00.000-07:00

Sigh, he's not being canned, just given a cushy job to avoid the appearance of non-performance. A public source:

http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,1995,1833182,00.asp

I still see Joe Peterson in the GAL as a VP. Coul...

2005-06-29T06:10:00.000-07:00

I still see Joe Peterson in the GAL as a VP. Could he be moving to a different position?

-MS field employee "we're in a different world out here"

I've only met him once, completely different divis...

2005-06-29T02:35:00.000-07:00

I've only met him once, completely different division, but I actually liked Peterson, he seemed to have his head firmly screwed on :-(

I wonder who ValenChin will draft in to replace him?

the axe is starting to fall freely ....fire at wil...

2005-06-29T00:33:00.000-07:00

the axe is starting to fall freely ....

fire at will commander ...

Peterson's not on the Exec list at PressPass any m...

2005-06-29T00:10:00.000-07:00

Peterson's not on the Exec list at PressPass any more...

I heard Joe Peterson took the fall, but I'm at MSK...

2005-06-28T21:29:00.000-07:00

I heard Joe Peterson took the fall, but I'm at MSKK..

Which VP was fired?-MS field employee "we're in a ...

2005-06-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

Which VP was fired?

-MS field employee "we're in a different world out here"

At least I have hope that longhorn will ship next ...

2005-06-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

At least I have hope that longhorn will ship next year now that they brought ChrisJo back to run the team! And they actually fired a vice prez - today is a 2fer.

"As a paying Microsoft customer and long-time Wind...

2005-06-27T15:50:00.000-07:00

"As a paying Microsoft customer and long-time Windows fan who is currently evaluating alternatives, I found this post quite edifying. If I were a MSFT shareholder who was still hanging on, desperately hoping for the stock to recover, I would find this post instructive as to what kind of future this company has in a market where it actually has to face competition. Thank you, Mini, for today's lesson."

Who just happens to frequent a militant softie blog? Give me a break. BTW, it wasn't his smartest comment but only a moron would take one employee's opinion on one issue, extrapolate it to the entire company and from that divine the future direction of the stock. Net net, it seems you came with an agenda which is fine - just don't lay it all on Mini's comment/head.