tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post2599673203218504016..comments2024-03-18T12:52:48.117-07:00Comments on Mini-Microsoft: Microsoft FY09Q4 ResultsWho da'Punkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18205453956191063442noreply@blogger.comBlogger373125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-85766264924289294782010-07-15T16:50:32.063-07:002010-07-15T16:50:32.063-07:00So when WM7 is not successful will senior manageme...So when WM7 is not successful will senior management get axed or will only the rank and file pay the price?<br /><br />Just sayin, might be a good company meeting question.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-80536911601089497122010-07-15T07:40:38.623-07:002010-07-15T07:40:38.623-07:00If Microsoft is serious about WP7, simply allow ev...If Microsoft is serious about WP7, simply allow every developers inside Microsoft to take 3 months off to develop WP7 application.<br /><br />Allow those applications to be sold in "the MS app store", and will simply split the profit with the employee.<br /><br />Consider there is 10,000 developers in MS. 10% come up with good app, and 10% of them become useful app, and 10% of them become killer app.<br /><br />MS will have 10,000 app, 100 useful app, and 10 killers app at the time we launch WP7.<br /><br />MS can also reserve the right to further develop those app.... <br /><br />It is also a good chance to prove us wrong because ...<br /><br />If a dev can do solo, there is no manager or PM involve. If they can't create great app, it mean manager and PM are necessary.<br /><br />PM and manager can become developers again, or they can impire people to join their team, and let developers follow their vision.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-11090930630394207262009-09-11T23:51:41.474-07:002009-09-11T23:51:41.474-07:00L66
Merit: 0%
Bonus: 0%
Stock: 0%
U/10 and already...L66<br />Merit: 0%<br />Bonus: 0%<br />Stock: 0%<br />U/10 and already U/10 for 2010! I ask you, are reviews <i>really</i> objective? Not going to justify or defend myself. Just reporting what it is. Manager &quot claims &quot, he's not going to manage me out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-51309636728755836022009-08-27T18:19:55.330-07:002009-08-27T18:19:55.330-07:00Wonder how many people they'll have to lay off...<i>Wonder how many people they'll have to lay off from profitable groups to make this happen? </i><br /><br />Don't forget the campus hires coming in all summer long and into the fall.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-31603645247281682972009-08-26T23:32:24.727-07:002009-08-26T23:32:24.727-07:00480 new hires coming soon for search
http://belle...480 new hires coming soon for search<br /><br />http://bellevue.komonews.com/node/29994<br /><br />Wonder how many people they'll have to lay off from profitable groups to make this happen?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-41369786134561730892009-08-25T22:38:35.964-07:002009-08-25T22:38:35.964-07:00Bear in mind that the curve applies to GMs and VPs...<i>Bear in mind that the curve applies to GMs and VPs just like it does everyone else, and it is much more cutthroat at that level...</i>Not the same at all. At the bottom rungs, people are getting single or double digit stock awards. At the GM level, you need to add at least 3 zeros. An ok review for you won't have a major impact on your life.<br /><br />Plus there are other awards at the VP level. So we won't feel sorry for folks like you.<br /><br /><i>you have to be pretty good at playing the game just to get there, and one of the primary levers you have to work with is your budget and headcount. </i><br /><br />Empire building sucks. We need less of it.<br /><br /><i>Investing one head in a Chief of Staff to protect this is a good move.</i>So if you have a Chief of Staff to do all of your grunt work, what do you do all day? Sit in your office and "strategize"? Or are you more into "creating synergy"? Figuring out your group's strategy for "software as a service"? <br /><br />Give me a farking break. Chief of staff is a ridiculous title (the Windows org has one of these people too). Most of the tasks you describe are clearly admin tasks. So give them an appropriate title - executive assistant. Oh wait. You probably have an admin too, don't you? Most people at your level do. So that's 2 people to handle many of your day to day tasks.<br /><br />This is what we get for hiring a bunch of smart people. They figure out how to screw other people within the system.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-73574060023103646012009-08-25T21:19:41.148-07:002009-08-25T21:19:41.148-07:00The percent of >= L67 let go each year must be ...The percent of >= L67 let go each year must be small. It would be great for HR to publish that number.<br /><br />Everyone always ends up a architect, PUM, or GM in another area - but never let go for failure. Ever.<br /><br />Out of respect for those politicians who are still at the company, and could destroy anyone even though they always fail to deliver, their aliases will not be listed here :-).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-88767704489464512562009-08-25T11:51:29.663-07:002009-08-25T11:51:29.663-07:00"Bear in mind that the curve applies to GMs a..."Bear in mind that the curve applies to GMs and VPs just like it does everyone else, and it is much more cutthroat at that level...you have to be pretty good at playing the game just to get there,"<br /><br />The difference between MS and our largest competitors, most of whom are kicking our butt, is that their GM and VPs have to be pretty good first, and then adept at playing the game second. Here, playing the game is the main prerequisite and being pretty good is strictly optional.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-71292299255208434192009-08-24T23:08:18.475-07:002009-08-24T23:08:18.475-07:00BTW, I work at a group in Microsoft where 12 hour ...<i>BTW, I work at a group in Microsoft where 12 hour days are common. Anyway, fuck you, you piece of shit. You owe that woman an apology and a deletion of that comment.</i><br />You may want to reconsider your language. You clearly show the negative effects of 12 hours a day. What group is that ? so I never work there, not next to you. Another lady in a separate comment in fact kind of proved the point. See, no need to use foul language.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1293689426344198542009-08-24T22:35:06.353-07:002009-08-24T22:35:06.353-07:00According to the address book, "President Qi ...<i>According to the address book, "President Qi Lu" has a "Chief of Staff" - must be a nice L80 position. Does he not have time to manage his own directs?</i><br /><br />I'm a L67 and I have a Chief of Staff. There are plenty of good reasons to have this position at a GM level or above. The reason that comes to mind first is to manage financial processes. <br /><br />If you don't have budget and headcount to achieve your commitments at this level of leadership you are sunk, and a good Chief of Staff will go a long way to ensuring you have the resources you need to be successful. You might say this is Finance's job, but they are stocked with B and C players who you can't count on, and ultimately if you are a GM or VP who fails due to poor finance support, you only have yourself to blame. <br /><br />Bear in mind that the curve applies to GMs and VPs just like it does everyone else, and it is much more cutthroat at that level...you have to be pretty good at playing the game just to get there, and one of the primary levers you have to work with is your budget and headcount. Investing one head in a Chief of Staff to protect this is a good move.<br /><br />There are lots of other reasons for a Chief of Staff, such as preparing powerpoints and ghost writing communications emails, but in my opinion the management of business reviews and financial/budget/headcount processes is much more compelling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-43844970218217503452009-08-24T18:43:39.594-07:002009-08-24T18:43:39.594-07:00Comparing today (8/24)'s morning 520 @ 148th t...Comparing today (8/24)'s morning 520 @ 148th traffic accident and jam at 11am with today's traffic subsiding around 4pm, you can only make assumptions about the average working time for today's employees. Hooray, no raises!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-70311361500120975822009-08-24T13:47:51.823-07:002009-08-24T13:47:51.823-07:00According to the address book, "President Qi ...According to the address book, "President Qi Lu" has a "Chief of Staff" - must be a nice L80 position. Does he not have time to manage his own directs?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-82127529464851808342009-08-24T01:17:14.638-07:002009-08-24T01:17:14.638-07:00Are these reasonable numbers?
I got my review #...Are these reasonable numbers? <br /><br /><br />I got my review #'s.<br /><br />L64<br />Exceeded/70<br />Bonus $18K<br />Stock $30KAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-78870056883749530842009-08-24T00:27:42.652-07:002009-08-24T00:27:42.652-07:00BTW, I work at a group in Microsoft where 12 hour ...<i>BTW, I work at a group in Microsoft where 12 hour days are common. Anyway, fuck you, you piece of shit. You owe that woman an apology and a deletion of that comment.</i><br /><br />I am a woman, and I would be offended too -- except that in just two years at the company, I saw three marriages break up due to a 'softie's affair outside the office WHILE THEIR SPOUSE WAS WORKING LONG HOURS ON ANOTHER PROJECT ALSO AT MICROSOFT. (Sorry for the shouting, but it really disgusted me that while someone was working horrible hours due to management's requirements and thinking their spouse was also, that was just not the case.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-30310661954523402492009-08-24T00:25:30.367-07:002009-08-24T00:25:30.367-07:00> Round 3 of layoffs are coming - by end of Sep...> Round 3 of layoffs are coming - by end of September. Code name for layoffs at Microsoft is "Prius". Interally, this round of layoffs is referred to as "prius 3".<br /><br />The end is near! The end is near! Run for the hills!<br /><br /> It's easy to cry wolf and, who knows, you might even be right... Until you show what proof you have, I choose to keep enjoying the end of this nice Seattle summer instead.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-7979559748611805592009-08-23T22:19:16.093-07:002009-08-23T22:19:16.093-07:00Sinofsky model is simple. Get 1000 people and let ...<i>Sinofsky model is simple. Get 1000 people and let them do work worth 100 and really really go out of the way to make sure thats all they are allowed to do. </i><br /><br />Are you saying that the Windows org has 10x the number of people it really needs?<br /><br />If so, you're an idiot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-45382086172228566632009-08-23T21:56:55.013-07:002009-08-23T21:56:55.013-07:00"Sinofsky model is simple. Get 1000 people an..."Sinofsky model is simple. Get 1000 people and let them do work worth 100 and really really go out of the way to make sure thats all they are allowed to do. Works great if you are in a commanding position like Windows and Office and dont want people to screw it up for you, not so much if you actually have competition."<br /><br />Perhaps this is right, but i have seen teams like Mobile, XBox and MSN where 1000 people do 0 people of output and is actually negative for bottomline.<br /><br />Running on treadmill is great workout but you dont really go forward.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-91998609708677024892009-08-23T17:40:47.072-07:002009-08-23T17:40:47.072-07:00'Wow I don't know what employees you refer...'Wow I don't know what employees you refer to, but my husband works his ass off as do most of the people that he works with. 12 hour days and weekend time too.'<br /><br />"Are you completely sure he's working that many hours including weekends!? You better double check that."<br /><br />Ok, Mini, you officially crossed the line. You supposedly moderate these comments but you pass on a cheap shot like that? I don't know which is a bigger asshole, the dipshit that implied her husband is having an affair or you for printing what he said. The one thing that I do know is you're both assholes.<br /><br />BTW, I work at a group in Microsoft where 12 hour days are common. Anyway, fuck you, you piece of shit. You owe that woman an apology and a deletion of that comment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-54850363795602414182009-08-23T13:03:52.571-07:002009-08-23T13:03:52.571-07:00Round 3 of layoffs are coming - by end of Septembe...Round 3 of layoffs are coming - by end of September. Code name for layoffs at Microsoft is "Prius". Interally, this round of layoffs is referred to as "prius 3".<br /><br />To those that are in the bottom 10%, you have two options: 1) leave now and start looking and accept offer, or 2) wait till the layoff comes and take the severance and then look for work. Whatever you do, don't take it personally.<br /><br />Previous rounds of layoffs have walked out very talented folks. I've known 5 folks that were laid off and I can tell you that they were victims of politics. All were amazing workers who I'd want to work for me if I had a company.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-87194136815831990492009-08-22T17:43:10.443-07:002009-08-22T17:43:10.443-07:00So just as a heads up...I am sure the layoffs are ...So just as a heads up...I am sure the layoffs are more than likely over, but those who did get the severance package should actually be thankful.<br /><br />I know that sounds odd, but now the real hard messages are coming out at review.<br /><br />Yes I received that hard message...not in the fact that I got a horrible review (I got an acheived), but reading the tea leaves it appears that if I don't find another gig my days as an acheived will be numbered and hence my tenure at MS.<br /><br />While this is not necessarily a bad thing to get people moving to a new gig and re-energize their juices...my point here is that these hard discussions are being mandated from above (I had this confirmed by a Lead Program Manager who is a peer to my boss) are now happening and those who get purged, will not be getting that severance package.<br /><br />So in the end maybe this is a good thing for the company (I have been at MS for 4 years and I bear no animosity if things don't work out moving forward--I will be eternally grateful for all that I have learned and acheived in my career at MS), but I will not go as far to say that all folks are being treated well...I have seen some of the more Politically motivated moves (not mine but an LCA paralegal who was completely hosed).<br /><br />My only point is that no one regardless of their ability should be denigrated on their way out. A company can make the hard decisions and still be compassionate.<br /><br />So all I can say to those who got laid off...I know it sucked, but there are still folks who are likely targetted for termination that won't be getting anything so at least you were given time that these folks won't be getting.<br /><br />So try to remember that when you complain about the "bad breaks" you got this past spring.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-24392608712250918182009-08-22T17:05:08.876-07:002009-08-22T17:05:08.876-07:00I am an API PM who came from Test, then Dev, and h...I am an API PM who came from Test, then Dev, and hopped to PM to set straight some horrible design work that was giving all of us the shaft. <br /><br />---<br /><br />Well you know what, there is a principle PM who is in former teamwho was a dev ... he jumped over to PM to "have more influence" but in reality so he could kiss ass and be a stronger technical PM than what the team had. While that is a good thing its awful since all he does is a) kiss ass and b) threaten by brow beating stronger technical PMs who have come in and are junior level <br /><br />Throw in that he is bi-polar PHD type is even ice on the cake.<br /><br />marc :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-56727951601853297522009-08-22T12:15:15.736-07:002009-08-22T12:15:15.736-07:00Where is the annual review post mini.Where is the annual review post mini.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-50890940457754895852009-08-22T00:31:32.016-07:002009-08-22T00:31:32.016-07:00After reading what people posted here, I just want...After reading what people posted here, I just want to say a couple of things<br /><br />1)I think MS is a decent place to work in. Some orgs are better than others<br /><br />2)Smart work and hard work pay off...in the long run.<br /><br />3) MS is by means the best place to work for in IT. GOOGLE is, at least according to Business Week's ranking<br /><br />4) We don't have to work at MS. If you feel you are not respected. Find another job and leave. Why even consider wasting another second here and thinking about suing the company? MS is a big company with an army of lawyers. Do you really think you can win this? If I were you, and if I felt I did decent solid work, I would compose an email to Bill Gates, Steve Balmer, CC your director, and your entire org , but of course, in the email, include all the data point. And just walk out. This is possibly the best vengeance you can take on MS. And I think you should because it is within your rights to.<br /><br />4) Don't feel bitter. If you feel you got sagged because your manager is an asshole. Then don't even talk to him, don't even waste any of your energy on him. Walk away and be the better man/woman :)<br /><br />5) I agree with some people on Search and bring Qi Lu here. Ok we see traffic rate increase in SEARCH, but that is because we paid 800 million dollars for Ads and Campaign. So we are buying the traffic. Of course we all worked very hard for the brand launch. What I am afraid of is Qi Lu has brought so many people at principal level from Yahoo. Do those people really deliver the goods? <br /><br />5) Quite honestly, I haven't had a very good impression of Qi. What has he done. What is his role in making Search the dominant number 2 player in the market? I work in Search and I want Search to succeed. A successful Search engine doesn't mean it will take over Google, but it means at least we will get 20% of market share in the next 3 years. Qi couldn't even speak English properly. <br /><br />How do you expect someone at a senior VP level to represent the most invested product in our company properly if he can't even give a decent interview. At least Steve Ballmer speaks English fluently.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-41485320885391232752009-08-21T10:26:00.023-07:002009-08-21T10:26:00.023-07:00True or False? KT flies everywhere he goes on a pr...True or False? KT flies everywhere he goes on a private jet, dragging along 5 or 6 other execs to meetings they don't need to attend? (so he meets the criteria for hiring a private jet, while the rest of the company fly like cattle at the back of the cheapest available airline)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-22798661510558768652009-08-21T08:35:30.394-07:002009-08-21T08:35:30.394-07:00I am level 59 IC. I have been given Achieved - 10%...I am level 59 IC. I have been given Achieved - 10% this review.<br /><br />I was under MANAGER-A during 3/4th of the time and with my current MANAGER-B 1/4 of time. MANAGER-A although my direct manager was at a skip level and did not actually function as my manager and kept assigning me in filler projects. The end result was many of the applications I built (which were bug free, deliverd on time, high quality etc) did not actually get released. Some times the PM will drive the next "high roi" initiative which was not really needed and didnt take me anywhere.<br /><br />MANAGER-A got demoted as well. Also there were org-wide reorgs. I have been re-orged to a MANAGER-B now. This means that the old MANAGER-A(who got demoted) did not care about me during review since I dont report to him anymore. He dropped the ball on me.<br /><br />I think I got "Achieved-10%" due to the below:<br />3) 90% of your peers are contributing more than you. Maybe they have projects where it's easier to contribute more, maybe they're executing better than you (getting more done), maybe they're more proactive (creating their own projects), maybe ...<br /><br />I believe that the primary reason of my problem is that my MANAGER-A did not deliver. Yes, he got demoted, but I am being made a scapegoat as well on this. <br /><br />Is my career doomed with getting a 10%? I dont think I can ever move within Microsoft unless I get promoted in my current team. <br />Is there any way to get me out of 10% in this review?<br /><br />Please help!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com