Difference between revisions of "Microsoft"

From Powerbase
Jump to: navigation, search
(Private Sector)
(Lobbying firms)
 
(279 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
== Microsoft Board of Directors ==
+
== History of Microsoft ==
  
*[[Bill Gates]]
+
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.
  
*[[Steven A. Ballmer]]
+
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.  
  
*[[James I. Cash Jr.]] Ph.D.
+
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>.
  
*[[Dina Dublon]]
+
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.
  
*[[Raymond V. Gilmartin]]
+
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.
  
*[[David F. Marquardt]]
+
== Microsoft’s Philanthropy ==
  
*[[Charles H. Noski]]
+
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. 
  
*[[Jon A. Shirley]]
+
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>.
  
== UK Executives ==
+
== Microsoft's Partner Companies ==
 +
[[Charteris plc]]
  
[[Gordon Frazer]]
+
==Resources==
 +
*[[Microsoft:Products / Projects]]
 +
*[[Microsoft: Company Structure, Ownership, People]]
 +
*[[Microsoft:Influence / Lobbying]]
 +
*[[Microsoft:Corporate Crime]]
 +
*[[Microsoft:What you can do]]
 +
=== 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.
  
[[Neil Thompson]]
+
*[[Microsoft: US Conflicts]]
 +
*[[Microsoft: European Conflicts]]
 +
*[[Microsoft: UK]]
 +
*[[Microsoft: Wales]]
 +
*[[Microsoft: Scotland]]
  
[[Nick Barley]]
+
==Lobbying firms==
 
+
*[[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>
[[Sharon Baylay]]
+
*[[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>
 
+
*[[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>
[[Steve Dunn]]
+
*[[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>
 
 
[[Scott Dodds]]
 
 
 
[[Andy Watson]]
 
 
 
[[Matthew Bishop]]
 
 
 
[[Tery Smith]]
 
 
 
[[Chris Parker]]
 
 
 
[[Alison Dodd]]
 
 
 
[[Bronwyn Kunhardt]]
 
 
 
[[David Gartenberg]]
 
 
 
== Microsoft Scotland ==
 
 
 
Microsoft Edinburgh127 George Street
 
Edinburgh
 
EH2 4JN
 
 
 
08706010100
 
 
 
=== Microsoft Scotland Managers ===
 
 
 
[[Raymond O'Hare]]
 
 
 
=== Microsoft Workers ===
 
 
 
Microsoft Scotland have a work force of 40 people mostly working in sales and technical support
 
 
 
 
 
=== Microsoft and the Scottish Executive ===
 
 
 
Microsoft are linked closly with the Scottish Executive, selling their technology to public services such as the police force and the NHS. Recently Microsoft have been cofounders of the Not in Education or Employment Project (NEET) aiming to train young Scots who are not in employment or education in an attempt to give them key transferable skills to compete in the job market. They are also invloved with other Scottish organisations such as Learn Direct Scotland.
 
 
 
The Scottish Executive and Microsoft are both clients of the lobbying agency [[2Collaborate]] claim:
 
 
 
"2collaborate's management team has a unique mix of political, media and research skills. In bringing these forces together we believe we are creating a new way for organisations and their stakeholders to communicate, driving positive change and creating value for customers and citizens. We believe a sustainable future will be achieved only if sectors and players within industries collaborate and share best practice in an open and accountable environment."{{ref|15}}
 
 
 
Microsoft have fiercley lobbied the Scottish Executive to have access to scotland's public services.
 
 
 
== Private Sector ==
 
 
 
[[Microsoft]]  
 
 
 
[[Capgemini]]
 
 
 
[[LogicaCMG]]
 
 
 
[[nPower Renewables]]
 
 
 
[[RED Group]]
 
 
 
[[Baillie Wind Farm Ltd]]
 
 
 
[[Elphinstone Group]]
 
 
 
[[Spittal Wind Farm Ltd]]
 
 
 
[[PM Renewables]]
 
 
 
=== Public Sector ===
 
 
 
[[Glasgow Housing Association]]
 
 
 
The [[Scottish Executive]]
 
 
 
[[Yorkshire and Humber Regional Assembly]]
 
 
 
=== Not-for-profit ===
 
 
 
[[Federation of Small Business]] (Scotland)
 
 
 
[[Crossreach]]{{ref|3}}
 
 
 
== Shared Services ==
 
 
 
Shared Services is a partnership between the government and the private sector aiming to use private business to run public services.
 
 
 
The Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform Tom McCabe etimated savings of between £250 million and £750 million a year across the whole of the Scottish public sector.
 
 
 
"The Executive is committed to spending taxpayers' money as efficiently and effectively as possible. This new shared services strategy on which we are seeking views is a central plank of our Efficient Government initiative which aims to tackle bureaucracy and duplication in the public sector. {{ref|23}}
 
 
 
== Microsoft Government Leaders Forum ==
 
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.
 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
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:
 
 
 
“This conference provides an opportunity to debate key issues of engagement and economic development which affect citizens and states across Europe.
 
 
 
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]]
 
Bill gates accompanied Jack Mc Connell in a press statement highlighting the philanthropic work both the Microsoft Corporation and the Scottish Executive will undertake in helping young Scots achieve. The signed agreement aims to train 100,000 Scots in computer skills {{ref|25}} The project is aimed at those not in education, employment or training (NEET)
 
 
 
 
 
== Microsoft's Involvement with Scotland's Public Services ==
 
[[Police Force]]
 
 
 
[[NHS UK]]
 
 
 
[[NHS Scotland]]
 
 
 
The recent deal between Microsoft and NHS Scotland followed public criticism by Microsoft that NHS Scotland was wasting billions on IT
 
 
 
[[NHS Scotland before the Microsoft deal]]
 
 
 
== Does microsoft's involvement with Public Services create Greater Efficiency ==
 
 
 
A recent Dispatches investigation in the NHS found that a great proportion of NHS money is wasted on their IT system. £xx millions have been spent onan internal database used by doctors to book patient hospital appointments. However, the investigation found that 80% of doctors use this system as many feel it is too complicated, time consuming and unreliable.  The Health Minister said ....('''get the quote for this''') {{ref|6}}
 
 
 
How much was Scotland paying on IT before they signed up with Microsoft?
 
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
 +
<references/>
  
#{{note|1}} Microsoft website [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/steve/default.mspx Board of Directors]accessed 30/01/07
+
[[Category:Media Industry]][[Category:Transnational Corporations]]
#{{note|2}} Microsoft website [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/steve/default.mspx Board of Directors]accessed 30/01/07
 
#{{note|3}} Microsoft website, [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/bod/jcash/default.mspx Board of Directors]
 
#{{note|4}} Microsoft website, [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/bod/jcash/default.mspx Board of Directors]
 
#{{note|5}}Microsoft website, [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/bod/jcash/default.mspx Board of Directors]
 
#{{note|6}} Microsoft website, [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/bod/jcash/default.mspx Board of Directors]
 
#{{note|7}} Microsoft website, [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/bod/jcash/default.mspx Board of Directors]
 
#{{note|8}}Microsoft website, [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/bod/jcash/default.mspx Board of Directors]
 
#{{note|9}}''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|10}}''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]Microsoft UK Press Center [http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/content/presscentre/releases/2004/11/pr03340.mspx Raymond O'Hare]accessed 18/02/07
 
#{{note|11}} ''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]Microsoft UK Press Center [http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/content/presscentre/releases/2004/11/pr03340.mspx Raymond O'Hare]accessed 18/02/07
 
#{{note|12}} Lucy Sherriff [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 Microsoft says Scottish NHS must curb IT spend: Unusual advice from a vendor] ''The Register'', Published Wednesday 5th January 2005 13:25 GMT
 
#{{note|13}}Microsoft Website [http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/executives/default.mspx UK executives] accessed 21/02/07
 
#{{note|14}}Microsoft Website [http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/executives/default.mspx UK executives] accessed 21/02/07
 
#{{note|15}} Microsoft Website [http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/executives/default.mspx UK executives] accessed 21/02/07
 
#{{note|16}}Microsoft Website [http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/executives/default.mspx UK executives] accessed 21/02/07
 
#{{note|17}} Microsoft Website [http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/executives/default.mspx UK executives] accessed 21/02/07
 
#{{note|18}} Microsoft Website [http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/executives/default.mspx UK executives] accessed 21/02/07
 
#{{note|19}}Microsoft Website [http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/executives/default.mspx UK executives] accessed 21/02/07
 
#{{note|20}}Microsoft Website [http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/executives/default.mspx UK executives] accessed Microsoft Website [http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/executives/default.mspx UK executives] accessed 21/02/0721/02/07
 
#{{note|21}}Microsoft Website [http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/executives/default.mspx UK executives] accessed 21/02/07
 
#{{note|22}}Microsoft Website [http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/executives/default.mspx UK executives] accessed 21/02/07
 
#{{note|23}}Microsoft Website [http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/executives/default.mspx UK executives] accessed 21/02/07
 
#{{note|24}}Microsoft Website [http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/executives/default.mspx UK executives] accessed 21/02/07
 
#{{note|25}} Scotsman website Billionaire, benefactor...but is Bill Gates a force for good? [http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=161002007.html Microsoft and Scottish executive Agreement] accessed 28/02/07
 
#{{note|23}} Scottish Executive Website [http://http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2006/05/05110720 Scottish executive Website Shared Services Strategy]
 
#{{note|25}}Microsoft Website [[http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/aug05/08-11CSPPR.mspx Police IT System]] accessed 22/03/07
 
#{{note|26}} The Register [[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/08/nhs_ms_deal_analysis/ NHS Contract with Microsoft]] accessed 22/03/07
 
#{{note|2}} Microsoft Website [[http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/executives/default.mspx UK executives]] accessed 22/03/07
 
#{{note|3}} 2Collaborate Website [[http://www.2collaborate.co.uk/about.php 2collaborate]] accessed 22/03/07
 
#{{note|4}} NHS Scotland [[http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/item.cfm NHS Scotland]] accessed 22/03/07
 
#{{note|5}} NHS Scotland pre Microsoft [[http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/business.cfm?id=1465512004 Microsoft Criticisms]] accessed 22/03/07
 
#{{note|6}}  Dispatches [[NHS Where did all the money go?]] Channel four
 

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