Who is the enemy?

Virtual Workgroups, Creating and Sharing information and business agility is the perspective Microsoft adopted post winning the browser war. Business @ The Speed Of Thought to progress success, articulated by Bill Gates in 1999, was the mission. It envisioned a Digital Nervous System for enterprises to learn, evolve, heal themselves, be as agile as small companies and get what they want. It concluded that all it needed was well-conceived digital tools and a culture to use them and share information. The culture has proved most difficult to establish though the desire for success is universal among CEOs and the tools have matured considerably. It is possible that the delay in progressing its mission is causing MS to rethink. Should it embrace its competitor’s mission?

In the meanwhile Google has progressed its mission to organize the world’s information and is seeking to open up the huge enterprise market. In principle there is a limit to the value Google can deliver the enterprise as E 2.0 has yet to work to transform the enterprise. However, a “cloud” has practically formed over the Microsoft domain and Google is not the only marauder. The internet has joined in with its open source and stealth operators like Xcerion. Microsoft is doing a great job of battling back but perhaps a perspective has been lost.

Earlier the enemy in Microsoft’s crosshairs were the forces that deny success to enterprises. As late as 2006 Bill Gates spoke of frictionless computing to make it easier for personnel to apply their talent, share their ideas, work hard and lead richer, more productive lives with a greater sense of fulfilment. Success would be a by-product. Microsoft would keep its hold over the desktop. Even, perhaps exploit the Knowledge – ad. link to generate ad. revenues. Now, with the pressure on its captive markets, it is possible MS perceives Google as the prime enemy.

The transformation of priorities has major implications. The customer is left alone to battle for success. This is a battle that has been fought with human energy since the dawn of organizations. Sun Tzu perhaps wrote the first book on the pursuit of success about 500 BC and it is as valid today as during his time. The change is that the environment has become far more demanding. The imbalance between the demand for energy to pursue success and its availability is growing. It would be a pity if the industry locks itself into a battle that is of no relevance to the war looming for mankind.