SHARE
Facebook X Pinterest WhatsApp

Microsoft’s Downfall: Inside the Executive E-mails and Cannibalistic Culture That Felled a Tech Giant

Vanity Fair: This lengthy piece by Kurt Eichenwald examines Microsoft’s “astonishingly foolish management decisions” and says the company “could serve as a business-school case study on the pitfalls of success.” Numerous interviews with Microsoft insiders detail how management practices like “stack ranking” led to the company’s fall from dominance. “I see Microsoft as technology’s answer […]

Jul 5, 2012
Datamation content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More

Vanity Fair: This lengthy piece by Kurt Eichenwald examines Microsoft’s “astonishingly foolish management decisions” and says the company “could serve as a business-school case study on the pitfalls of success.” Numerous interviews with Microsoft insiders detail how management practices like “stack ranking” led to the company’s fall from dominance. “I see Microsoft as technology’s answer to Sears,” said Kurt Massey, a former senior marketing manager. “In the 40s, 50s, and 60s, Sears had it nailed. It was top-notch, but now it’s just a barren wasteland. And that’s Microsoft. The company just isn’t cool anymore.”

Bill Hill, a former Microsoft manager, added, “They used to point their finger at IBM and laugh. Now they’ve become the thing they despised.”

  SEE ALL
ARTICLES
 

Recommended for you...

What Is Sentiment Analysis? Essential Guide
11 Top Data Collection Trends Emerging In 2024
Kaye Timonera
Feb 8, 2024
6 Top Data Classification Trends
Avya Chaudhary
Oct 13, 2023
7 Data Management Trends: The Future of Data Management
Mary Shacklett
Aug 2, 2023
Datamation Logo

Datamation is the leading industry resource for B2B data professionals and technology buyers. Datamation's focus is on providing insight into the latest trends and innovation in AI, data security, big data, and more, along with in-depth product recommendations and comparisons. More than 1.7M users gain insight and guidance from Datamation every year.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.