Difference between revisions of "Microsoft"

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== Microsoft ==
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== History of Microsoft ==
  
Bill Gates
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The company was founded by [[Bill Gates]] and [[Paul Allen]] in 1975 and generated profits of $16,000.  In the 1980s microsoft flourished as it provided the operating system DOS for IBM’s PC.
  
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Today Microsoft is an international company present in 102 different countries, employing 76,000 people and generalting a profit of $44.28 billion per year.
  
Steven A. Ballmer is a Harvard graduate with a degree in mathemeatics and Economics and is now Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Corporation. Ballmer joined in 1980 and was the first business manager hired by Bill Gates. Former President, now CEO
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Microsoft  takes up 18.3 million square feet of office building space and is ranked 15th in the world's top 500 companies.  Microsoft's has driven 93% of the world's desktop computers since 1991 and its office software dominates 90% of the market and earns the company $9 billion a year.  In 1990 Microsoft became the first software company to reach $1 billion in revenue.  In 2003 Microsoft's revenue increased by $3.82 billion to $32.19 billion with a net income of $9993 billion. Although Microsoft have been accused of fraudulent accounting in order to show profit<ref>Corporate Watch (2004) '''Microsoft: A Corporate Profile'''[http://archive.corporatewatch.org/profiles/microsoft/microsoft4.htm Corporate Watch] (accessed 05/04/07)</ref>.
The company has seven business
 
After college he worked at [[Procter and Gamble]] Co for two years.
 
Beofore working for Microsoft he attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business. {{ref|1}}
 
  
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The company headquarters are in Redmond, Washington, USA.
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Microsoft have ownership of  MSNBC cable television network, the MSN Internet portal, and the Microsoft Encarta multimedia encyclopedia.
  
[[James I. Cash Jr., Ph.D.]]Dr. Cash received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Texas Christian University; a Master of Science in computer science from Purdue University's Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Management Information Systems (MIS) from Purdue University's Krannert Graduate School of Management. He joined the Harvard Business School Faculty in 1976, and has taught in all the major HBS programs MBA, Program for Management Development (PMD), Program for Global Leadership (PGL), and Advanced Management Program (AMP). Among his administrative assignments he has served as chairman of the MBA Program from 1992 to 1995, during the schools project to redesign the MBA Program MBA: Leadership and Learning; and as Senior Associate Dean and Chairman of HBS Publishing from 1998 to 2003.
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The company has faced much controversy over the years as many have attributed their success to their illegal monopoly over operating systems which effectively pushes competition out of the market. The company has faced legal proceedings aroung the world and have been found guilty on the charges of holding an unfair monopoly.  However, as microsoft are an extrmely rich company, the finacial penalties they face are insignificant and they often pay their way out of any legal obligations to rectify this monopoly.
  
Dr. Cash's nonacademic activities include serving as a trustee or overseer for nonprofit organizations and on the board of directors for several public companies. He has worked with many companies and governments around the world in both consulting and teaching assignments. Before his graduate education and joining the Harvard Faculty, he worked as director of Data Processing for several years, which followed jobs as a systems analyst, systems programmer and application programmer. His research focused on the strategic use of information technology in the service sector.
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== Microsoft’s Philanthropy ==
  
Dr. Cash is currently running an invitation-only program for chief information officers of leading companies-designed to promote peer-to-peer exchange and learning, and exposure to leading thinkers from business, government and academia – titled The Cash Concours. He also designed and implemented a leadership development program for The Concours Group which targets senior managers in large information technology organizations.{{ref|3}}
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Bill Gates likes to consider himself above all as a philanthropic man.  At the Government Leaders Forum he quoted Carnegie: ‘he who dies rich dies disgraced.’  Although Gates found the funny side to this, saying that he was still working on it, his charity has been described as the ‘Microsoft of charities’.  The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was launched by a donation from Bill Gates of £54 million in 2000.  Gates has a very philanthropic public image and has joined Bono on the cover of Time magazine as Humanitarian of the year and was voted 8th in the list of “Heroes of our Time” by the New Statesman.
  
   
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However, the ‘Microsoft of charities’ may hold alternative meanings as it has been criticised for disinvestments. In January the Los Angeles Times exposed the foundation for investing over £254 million in oil companies including [[Royal Dutch Shell]], [[Exxon Mobil]], [[Chevron]] and [[Total]] who were being accused of causing health problems in Nigeria which, ironically, is another area of funding for the trust<ref>MChinty, S (2007) '''Billionaire, benefactor...but is Bill Gates a force for good?''' [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com.index.cfm?id=161002007 The Scotsman] 31st January (accessed 28/02/07)</ref>.
  
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== Microsoft's Partner Companies ==
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[[Charteris plc]]
  
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==Resources==
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*[[Microsoft:Products / Projects]]
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*[[Microsoft: Company Structure, Ownership, People]]
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*[[Microsoft:Influence / Lobbying]]
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*[[Microsoft:Corporate Crime]]
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*[[Microsoft:What you can do]]
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=== International role ===
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Microsoft have faced criticism and legal action around the world.  The main accusations are that they constitute a monopoly and effectively push competitors out of the market.  Court cases in the US and Europe give some indication of how they conduct their business and political activities.
  
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*[[Microsoft: US Conflicts]]
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*[[Microsoft: European Conflicts]]
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*[[Microsoft: UK]]
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*[[Microsoft: Wales]]
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*[[Microsoft: Scotland]]
  
== Microsoft Governement Leaders Forum ==
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==Lobbying firms==
The annual forum brings together Prime Ministers, Ministers, EU Commissioners and policy advisers from across Europe, marking one of the most senior gatherings of European leaders Scotland has seen.  
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*[[APCO Worldwide]]<ref> [http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=APCO%20Worldwide Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014] ''APPC'', accessed 28 January 2015 </ref>
 
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*[[Edelman]]<ref> [http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=Edelman Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014] ''APPC'', accessed 29 January 2015 </ref>
The Government Leaders’ Forum Europe is one of Microsoft’s flagship events for government, parliamentarians, education and business leaders across the continent and is being supported by a partnership of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive.  
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*[[Weber Shandwick]]<ref> [http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=Weber%20Shandwick Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014] ''APPC'', accessed 29 January 2015 </ref>
 
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*[[Hanover Communications]] <ref>[https://registerofconsultantlobbyists.force.com/CLR_Public_Profile?id=0012400000600D4AAI Hanover Communications profile 2016], ''Register of consultant lobbyists'', accessed 25 April 2016</ref>
The event provides a forum to formulate successful strategies in key areas relating to connected government, digital learning, employability skills and the transition to the knowledge economy. This year will reflect a number of Scotland’s experiences as the host country
 
 
 
Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, George Reid MSP said:  
 
 
 
“Our Parliament is committed to the widest possible engagement with the people, one important element in this being the use of technology. From my attendance at this year’s forum in Lisbon, it is clear that the Scottish experience has much to share with the political institutions of Europe.  
 
 
 
“This conference provides an opportunity to debate key issues of engagement and economic development which affect citizens and states across Europe.  
 
 
 
“I look forward to welcoming the Microsoft Government Leaders’ Forum. Once again, Holyrood will provide the stage that puts Scotland at the heart of international debate.”
 
 
 
The President of Microsoft International, Jean-Philippe Courtois said:  
 
 
 
“The Scottish Parliament offers a unique setting to hold a very interactive and participative Government Leaders’ Forum. This event offers an excellent opportunity to bring together top policy makers and industry leaders from across the continent to facilitate a discussion around the impact of ICT on parliaments and their citizens. Microsoft is grateful to both the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive for their support and cooperation in bringing the GLF to Edinburgh.” {{ref|2}}
 
 
 
 
 
[[Microsoft Government Leaders Forum]]
 
Microsoft says Scottish NHS must curb IT spend {{ref|4}}
 
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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<references/>
  
#{{note|1}} Microsoft website [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/steve/default.mspx Board of Directors]accessed 30/01/07
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[[Category:Media Industry]][[Category:Transnational Corporations]]
#{{note|2}} ''Scottish Parliament to host the UK’s first Microsoft Government Leaders’ Forum''  | 20 September 2006.[http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-06/pa06-068.htm]
 
#{{note|3}} Microsft website, Board of Directors [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/bod/jcash/default.mspx]
 
#{{note|4}} [The Register http://209.85.129.104/search?q=cache:ObadE5UNRR0J:www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/05/scottish_it_spending_spree/+microsoft+scotland&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=1]
 

Latest revision as of 11:16, 29 April 2016

History of Microsoft

The company was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975 and generated profits of $16,000. In the 1980s microsoft flourished as it provided the operating system DOS for IBM’s PC.

Today Microsoft is an international company present in 102 different countries, employing 76,000 people and generalting a profit of $44.28 billion per year.

Microsoft takes up 18.3 million square feet of office building space and is ranked 15th in the world's top 500 companies. Microsoft's has driven 93% of the world's desktop computers since 1991 and its office software dominates 90% of the market and earns the company $9 billion a year. In 1990 Microsoft became the first software company to reach $1 billion in revenue. In 2003 Microsoft's revenue increased by $3.82 billion to $32.19 billion with a net income of $9993 billion. Although Microsoft have been accused of fraudulent accounting in order to show profit[1].

The company headquarters are in Redmond, Washington, USA. Microsoft have ownership of MSNBC cable television network, the MSN Internet portal, and the Microsoft Encarta multimedia encyclopedia.

The company has faced much controversy over the years as many have attributed their success to their illegal monopoly over operating systems which effectively pushes competition out of the market. The company has faced legal proceedings aroung the world and have been found guilty on the charges of holding an unfair monopoly. However, as microsoft are an extrmely rich company, the finacial penalties they face are insignificant and they often pay their way out of any legal obligations to rectify this monopoly.

Microsoft’s Philanthropy

Bill Gates likes to consider himself above all as a philanthropic man. At the Government Leaders Forum he quoted Carnegie: ‘he who dies rich dies disgraced.’ Although Gates found the funny side to this, saying that he was still working on it, his charity has been described as the ‘Microsoft of charities’. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was launched by a donation from Bill Gates of £54 million in 2000. Gates has a very philanthropic public image and has joined Bono on the cover of Time magazine as Humanitarian of the year and was voted 8th in the list of “Heroes of our Time” by the New Statesman.

However, the ‘Microsoft of charities’ may hold alternative meanings as it has been criticised for disinvestments. In January the Los Angeles Times exposed the foundation for investing over £254 million in oil companies including Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Total who were being accused of causing health problems in Nigeria which, ironically, is another area of funding for the trust[2].

Microsoft's Partner Companies

Charteris plc

Resources

International role

Microsoft have faced criticism and legal action around the world. The main accusations are that they constitute a monopoly and effectively push competitors out of the market. Court cases in the US and Europe give some indication of how they conduct their business and political activities.

Lobbying firms

Notes

  1. Corporate Watch (2004) Microsoft: A Corporate ProfileCorporate Watch (accessed 05/04/07)
  2. MChinty, S (2007) Billionaire, benefactor...but is Bill Gates a force for good? The Scotsman 31st January (accessed 28/02/07)
  3. Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014 APPC, accessed 28 January 2015
  4. Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014 APPC, accessed 29 January 2015
  5. Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014 APPC, accessed 29 January 2015
  6. Hanover Communications profile 2016, Register of consultant lobbyists, accessed 25 April 2016