Ballmer rallies MS troops

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer called on employees to take more responsibility for leading the high-tech industry and reshaping the software maker's image.

In a memo sent Thursday, Ballmer called on Microsoft's 50,000 employees worldwide to improve relations with customers through a renewed focus on value and integrity. "Customers expect us to hit a very high bar in terms of product and support quality, delivering on our commitments, and providing excellent customer-focused decision making," he wrote. Ballmer also said Microsoft will add a new board member. "While we like having a small board of directors that is very agile and effective, we will add a member from outside the U.S. to continue to broaden the diversity of the board."

Ballmer reiterated a familar theme in the 2,700-word memo--in essence, a revamping of the company's mission statement--as he emphasized the importance of Windows as a beacon for the industry. He cited Longhorn--the code name of the next major version of Windows, due sometime in 2004--as an important platform for leadership and business.

"We have decided to line up significant innovation in most businesses around big platform innovations--Longhorn will prove the value clearly," Ballmer wrote. Should be worth waiting for then(?).

Ballmer made clear that Microsoft had already taken a more aggressive stance in leading technology innovation with Windows.

"We have given business leaders a mandate and resources to fund new customer scenarios in all parts of the business," he wrote. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates "is spending significant time on this as well as on platform innovation."

Ballmer sent the memo to Microsoft's employees following a retreat he'd spent with other top managers. A refocused mission statement evolved from the retreat, which Ballmer conveyed to Microsoft's employees through the memo.

News source: ZDNet