14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is about to give the green light to a major reorganization plan than would allow the Redmond-based software giant to migrate towards the devices and services firm concept we’ve heard about so many times lately.
Just as the previous report stated, Steve Ballmer is looking into ways to put the focus on hardware and thus give Microsoft a better chance to compete with long-time rivals such as Google and Apple that have already invested heavily in this particular market.
Now Bloomberg reveals what seems to be Microsoft’s reorganization plan, which suggests that the whole idea behind this new change would actually be reducing the number of business divisions to only 4.
Insiders told the aforementioned source that Microsoft is planning to launch a brand new enterprise division whose boss is very likely to be Satya Nadella, currently head of Microsoft’s server business. As you know, the enterprise market is slowly becoming a priority for the company, so several new products specifically aimed at this market are very likely to be launched soon.
Microsoft’s hardware division, the one also responsible for Surface tablet, is very likely to become the sole responsibility of Don Mattrick, who’s now holding the role of head of the Entertainment and Devices unit.
Another key change would be the appointment of Qi Lu, currently leading the online division, as head of applications and services, especially because Steve Ballmer wants Microsoft to fully embrace the devices and services concept.
Last but not least, Julie Larson-Green, the leader of the Windows division, and Terry Myerson, head of Windows Phone, will both be in charge of a fourth business division specifically focused on operating systems.
Tony Bates, president of the Skype business unit, could also be part of this fundamental shift, but his role in Microsoft’s new organogram is yet to be decided.
Keep in mind that all these changes are yet to be confirmed, so let’s take them with a pinch of salt until Microsoft releases an official comment.