Way behind
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) resided in an embarrassing sixth place in tablet shipments during Q1 2013, owning a dismal 2% of the market. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) maintains market leadership with a 39% market share. In an act of desperation Microsoft cut the price of its Surface RT by $150 to spur consumer interest. In fact, Microsoft had to take a $900 million charge in its most recent quarter stemming from inventory adjustments on its Surface RT.
In the most recent quarter, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) experienced an increase in revenue of 10% due to its new product cycle, versus Apple’s 11% increase. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) blew past both of them with a 19% increase in revenue. Over the long-term it will most likely be a fight between Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google in terms of tablet and smartphone market leadership, with Microsoft in last place as a fading tech name.
Currently, Microsoft’s chief core competency still resides in operating and productivity software on PCs. With PCs on the endangered species list and the world moving toward a cloud-internet-app consuming marketplace, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) not only needs new products but a new way of thinking in order to move the needle on its place in the new tech paradigm.
Cultural shift
Based upon the restructuring announcement, you could infer that Microsoft’s product divisions kind of operated on their own without much interaction with other divisions. Each division even sported its own procedures and financing. This created too much bureaucracy.
Steve Ballmer realized that he needed to re-invigorate Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s mojo by encouraging entrepreneurial drive among employees. An entrepreneurial culture seems to work for other big companies such as The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) and Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) as they encourage stakeholders to develop product ideas of their own. His statement in the most recent quarter serves as proof of his belief in this new approach,
Our new products and the strategic realignment we announced last week position us well for long-term success, as we focus our energy and resources on creating a family of devices and services for individuals and businesses that empower people around the globe at home, at work and on the go, for the activities they value the most.
Product innovation and transformation
Teams will need to work together on producing products that consumers will want. For example, the teams may work together on creating a cloud-based operating platform with an app that will stream videos in order to compete with the likes of Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX).
In addition, engineering could work with marketing to develop an aesthetically appealing tablet that could rival the iPad.
Microsoft’s employees need to fully synthesize the changes before they can begin to think about honing creative and engineering skills that can lead to products that will help move the company forward. In the meantime, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Apple will continue to solidify their positions in the tablet and smartphone markets.
Conclusion
In summary, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) stands at a crossroads between a PC-based tech paradigm and a tablet/smartphone tech paradigm. Employees will need to acclimate to Microsoft’s new function based team environment and by the time they do Google and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will stand more entrenched in the new tech paradigm. Microsoft overslept and it’s too late.
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The article Is Microsoft Waking Up Too Late? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by William Bias.
William Bias has a position in Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG). The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google, and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). William is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network — entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
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