Assignment: TROUBLING EXITS AT MICROSOFT
For most of its three decades, Microsoft has faced intense criticism, mostly from the outside world regarding its heavy-handed tactics. Now, the Redmond, Washington- based company is receiving its sharpest criticism from its own current and former employees. When superstar computer scientist Kai-Fu Lee bolted for Google, he called his former employer "incompetent." Around the same time, two current employees sent Microsoft chairman Bill Gates a memo saying that "everyone sees that a crisis is imminent." The 12-page document outlined "10 crazy ideas" to help Microsoft get out of its crisis.
This Business case study describes several criticisms that Microsoft employees have complained about to their employer, and what some of them have done about the situation. The article examines some of the perks that Microsoft employees appreciate, as well as some of the current concerns they have working at the world's largest software company. Read the full text of this Business Week article and prepare for the discussion questions below.
Response to the following Discussion Questions:
1. Use the exit-voice-loyalty-neglect model to describe some of the behaviors of Microsoft employees who seem dissatisfied with the software company.
2. What factors seem to dampen employee loyalty at Microsoft? Do you think continuance commitment is weak or strong here?