Microsoft - Publications - Faculty & Research

January 2020 (Revised March 2020)
Teaching Note

Commercial Sales Transformation at Microsoft

By: Doug J. Chung

Teaching Note for HBS No. 519-054. View Details

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23 Aug 2013
News

CEO Ballmer to leave Microsoft

November 1997
Case

Microsoft Goes Online: MSN 1996

By: David B. Yoffie

Explores Microsoft's decision to enter the online services industry in the light of its competition and the growing importance of the Internet. Significant issues include the cost and availability of content, telecomm/Internet access costs, competition with the World... View Details

Keywords: Cost Management; Growth and Development; Market Entry and Exit; Strategy; Competitive Advantage; Web; Information Technology Industry

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November 1990 (Revised May 1994)
Case

Microsoft Corp.: Office Business Unit

By: Marco Iansiti

Describes the development of a new word processing software package, Word for Windows. The major focus is how the development process should be improved to reduce schedule slips and cost overruns. Some of the issues raised are: the use of schedules in managing... View Details

Keywords: Communication Strategy; Cost Management; Business or Company Management; Time Management; Product Development; Programs; Projects; Information Infrastructure; Applications and Software; Information Technology Industry

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April 2001 (Revised June 2001)
Case

Competition Policy in the European Union and the Power of Microsoft

By: Julio J. Rotemberg and Michelle Kalka

Focuses on a decision by the European Competition Commissioner Mario Monti about U.S.-based Microsoft Corp. Sun has complained to the commission that Microsoft has installed components in its desktop operating system that only "talk" to Microsoft operating systems for... View Details

Keywords: Competition; Law; Emerging Markets; Information Technology; Policy; Computer Industry; Electronics Industry; European Union; United States

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21 Jun 2022
News

Free Isn’t Always Better: How Slack Holds Its Own Against Microsoft Teams

January 2013
Supplement

Microsoft Server & Tools (B)

By: Marco Iansiti and Alain Serels

Supplement for case 613031. Update on progress of Microsoft's Server & Tools Business through July 2011. Satya Nadella and his team explore whether or not to support Linux on Windows Azure. View Details

Keywords: Technological Innovation; Disruptive Innovation; Information Technology; Information Technology Industry

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02 Aug 2023
Podcast

Going Carbon Negative at Microsoft

Formerly Microsoft’s Chief Environmental Officer, and now Chief Sustainability Officer & Senior Managing Director at Haveli Investments, Lucas Joppa discusses the strategies and tools Microsoft developed to meet its ambitious carbon negative goals, including setting an... View Details

15 Apr 2014
HBS Seminar

Duncan Watts, Microsoft Research NYC

11 Jul 2013
News

Ballmer’s game plan to put Microsoft back on top

February 1995 (Revised August 1995)
Case

Microsoft in the People's Republic of China, 1993

By: Tarun Khanna

Explores some of the economic and political tradeoffs that need to be negotiated by a firm seeking to influence industry structure. The setting is the nascent personal computer software industry in the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1993. Microsoft has to localize... View Details

Keywords: Cost vs Benefits; Product Marketing; Market Entry and Exit; Market Transactions; Industry Structures; Partners and Partnerships; Vertical Integration; Software; Information Technology Industry; China

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02 Dec 2002
Research & Ideas

The Secret of How Microsoft Stays on Top

off by disruptive technologies. Critics often argue that Microsoft can't innovate its way out of a paper bag—instead it has used its monopoly position to stamp out competition and force an industry to bend to its standards. But now comes... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

August 2007 (Revised December 2007)
Case

Microsoft in China and India, 1993-2007

By: Tarun Khanna and Prithwiraj Choudhury

Relates to Microsoft's expansion in China and India in the period 1993-2007 and the strategic issues faced by multinationals in emerging markets. View Details

Keywords: Expansion; Multinational Firms and Management; Information Technology; Applications and Software; Emerging Markets; Information Technology Industry; China; India

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May 1993
Teaching Note

Microsoft Corporation: Office Business Unit (TN)

By: Marco Iansiti

Teaching Note for (9-691-033). View Details

Keywords: Information Technology Industry

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November 2019 (Revised April 2020)
Case

Microsoft Azure and the Cloud Wars

By: Andy Wu and Cindy Na

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05 Sep 2008
News

Microsoft Works to Perfect Windows Vista

March 2022
Teaching Note

Microsoft Azure and the Cloud Wars

By: Andy Wu and Matt Higgins

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November 1998 (Revised February 1999)
Case

Microsoft Office: Finding the Suite Spot

By: Stefan H. Thomke and Steven Sinofsky

Describes a key decision-making process within Microsoft's Office products division. At a time when the PC software business has a great deal of uncertainty, Microsoft's management has to make a key decision regarding the future of software suites. A strengthening of... View Details