Microsoft Corporation’s Strategy Essay

1. Executive SummaryMicrosoft is a estimator business company. It is famous for software program increases are the Microsoft Windows line of operating goerning bodys, Microsoft Office suite, and Internet Explorer wind vane browser. It is the worlds largest software maker measured by revenues. Also Microsoft has a new organic evolution outline inrecent year which access to smart-phone industry. Microsoft built on the partnership with Nokia since 2011, and the signifi freightertly increasing success of Nokias Lumia smart-phones. Microsofts purpose is to uptake the acceleration growth of its share and profit in meandering(a) devices through the speed innovation, addition synergies and centralized brand and mart.At that period for Nokia, this transaction was significantly accretive to earnings, strengthen its financial position, and provide a solid basis for investment in its continuing businesses. This acquisition pull up stakes promote competition, Microsoft offer competitiv e alternatives to Google and orchard apple tree which helped by integration of hardware and software. Also, Microsoft gains turn out cleverness which from key power to success in devices and services, it remains committed to working with partners in the windows & windows phone ecosystems. Moreover, the acquisition can benefit consumers, it has pulled crush Microsofts devices and services costs from development through the grocery and by gaining cost savings from Nokias.2. IntroductionMicrosoft Corporation is an American multinational company, and its mission statement is use human diversity and inclusive of ideas and solutions to satisfy the needs of its increasingly global and and diversification consumer base . Microsoft get into the smart-phone market would be a large-scale rate for it to develop more for its business, that is one of the reasons that purchasing Nokia in 2013. Microsofts acquired Nokia on 3rd September 2013 and announced that to used approximately $ 7.2 bil lion to purchase nigh all of Nokias mobile phone business which spent $ 5 billion on equipment and service departments, also paid $ 2.1 billion for re freshd unmingled. This narration aims to analyze the strategy of Microsoft acquisition of Nokia which included SWOT, also the analysis of PESTLE and five forces of the strategy, then finally would be the Value chain, the recommendation of its strategy and requital of competition. SWOT analyzes that after changed the strategy how to affect Microsoft as a good and bad way, also how it inspires more chances to develop the business, and any risk from this strategy.It shows that electronic produce industry competed in the firm. Secondly, the report condones the reason of Microsoft has to change strategy by political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal, allthose factors show that when strategy changed by Microsoft. Thirdly, this report will chide about Nokia entered into Microsoft is the strategic change the bus iness by using five forces it explains the current rivals and potential new entrants in the industry with the businesses change in strategy. Also, with the time value chain, the original Nokias technique skills open changed the organization and competencies. Finally, this report will talk about the future of this company development, it will tell core competence and innovation strategies are close likely to improve its absolute and relative performance in the next 3 to 5 years. With those analyses, this report will explain the details of this strategy from Microsoft, and both advantages and disadvantages by using this strategy for its future business.3. The Environment AnalysisWith technology great development, Apples produce iPhone and products to issue the market as Googles does have Android to compete in. Thurs made a decision with Microsoft acquired Nokia in 2013.3.1 SWOT Analysis3.1.1 StrengthsMicrosoft and Nokias huge bewitch in the worldMicrosoft Corporation is world l eader of personal computer software development also it currently is the worlds largest provider of computer software. At the same time, according to Steve Ballmer Microsoft Chief Executive (2013), Microsofts Windows occupy 91.49% sharing of the global PC operation system. Nokia has had powerful hardware design fantasy and abilities of manufacturing, also Nokias Lumia occupied approximately 82% of the market. So, acquisition of Nokia was a great record for Microsofts corporate strategy.Brand loyaltyMicrosoft has been managing operation systems and software provider, it establishes over 90 % of the PC operation systems market share. Most of mountain grew up with Microsofts operating system because of the easy manipulating and will use continually, there are not much brands can compete with it for those reasons. Even open source operating system it is totallyfree, suits ordinary users. simoleons of the mobile phone marketProfit is a big principle of Microsofts acquisition of Nokia. jibe to the US technology blog estimating, Microsoft earned 10 US dollars gross profit from each Lumia phone, but after the acquisition, the gross profit of Lumia has increased to over 40 US dollars, which mean that Microsoft can withhold the cost of acquisition of Nokia with 25 million Lumia phones be sold. 3.1.2 WeaknessesSaturated MarketMicrosoft approached too late to the smart-phones market, it has already saturated when Microsoft measuring stickped into. Most of the market shares have been taken by Apple and Android. According to Bamburic (2013), in 2013, Window brisk only occupied 2.9 % from the smart-phone market share, it is a bad record which compare with Apples 18.2 % and Androids 74.4 %.Innovate s misfortunatelyMicrosoft is difficult to ask people to accept the full-page system moved to a smart-phone operating in a short period. Although consumers have not totally approved Window Mobile, Microsoft still updates the mobile system slowly.3.1.3 OpportunitiesOffer Optio nAndroid occupies most of the market share of smart-phone, however the loyalty of Androids users are unstable, also Apples products are too expensive for consumers, with no more alternative for mobile system, Window mobile get a chance to attract those customers.FunctionalWith the developing Information Technology, people see mobile as a necessity, and mobile phone is not nevertheless a communication tool, consumers concern about the multi-function and the brand of mobile phone.3.1.4 ThreatsSubstitutiveThe threat of substitutive, same level of smart-phone will be the greatestsubstitutive of Microsoft, such as Samsung, LG, Sony unquestionable technology and internet, net communication also are the substitutive, such as E-mail, MSN, Skype.Limited Creative & CostThe inventive abilities of the whole industry are declining as Apple or Samsung. With the quick developed in these years, systems and function are getting homogeneous. This is the same problem for the whole industry. Moreov er, with the developing creative function, cost also is a main element to win the competition which how to spend less to do more.3.2 PESTLE Analysis macro instruction environmental influences on Microsoft are summarized with in following six categories to identify the key drivers for change.3.2.1 PoliticalThe US government concerns the investment in high tech industries and supports the development of high-tech enterprises which made the Mobile Enterprises starting the patent competition. Mobile manufacturers defray a large proportion of cost by the strict US patent system. Also America has the most complete and strict for mergers and acquisitions law.3.2.2 EconomicAmericas tertiary industry occupied for about 78 % of GDP, which the contribution of high-tech owned the most, the technology is crucial for the US which is the power source of economic development. The global economic crisis of 2008 caused a huge blow to the world economy, under the tinct of the economic crisis, Nokias share price fell sharply which just made a great offer for Microsoft to purchase as a low cost.3.2.3 SocialWith the development of the information age, people rely on mobile phones increasingly. By changing the concept of value as peoples lives changed as well, people do not see mobile as a communication tool at all, they attach importance to the multi-function and brand of the products. Consumers brand cognisance is getting stronger when they are selecting mobile phone.Smart-phones are no longer for teenage only, it turns to be public goods for everyone. With the smart-phone fashion rising slope, mobile phones have become a sign of renewal as a consumer, so the mobile phone market is very considerable.3.2.4 TechnologicalWalking in front of others is the only way to work in the high-tech field and the fierce market competition. High-tech products have rapid upgraded and short life cycle, it inspires higher requires to enterprises special application software and ability of conti nuing to update the hardware configuration. Nokia as a former mobile phone giant obviously hold numerous patents, specialized technical personnel and technical reserves the phone which is an advantage to help Microsoft to develop on smart-phone industry.3.2.5 LegalMicrosoft corporate supervised by laws, and it followed the laws which contain Labor law, intellectual keeping and the tax regime.3.2.6 EnvironmentalMicrosoft is an ecofriendly company, it is green IT and the company request customers to recycle the product which are used.3.3 Five forces3.3.1 Existing CompetitionsWith fierce competition in the electronics industry, Microsofts mobile is facing every kind of problems in development, smart-phones challenged from Apple and Google, also there has problems with products, research and development, marketing strategy and enterprise development strategy. Microsoft needs to jut its strategy as an universal key to open each locks.3.3.2 Threat of New EntrantNew entrant is a threat o f Microsoft. HP (Hewlett-Packard) purchased medallion mobile firm in 2010, HP was a global information technology company, main business focused on printers, computer and software. HP is just one of the new entrant, most of the famous computer industries involve as well, such asLenovo, Dell. They have stable trust on consumers and market in society, now they invade to mobile phone industry which is a serious threat for Microsoft.3.3.3 Threat of SubstitutesWith development of information technology and continuous improvement of peoples living standards, network, iPod and even digital cameras are more popular to substitute with phones by more functional and professional. As a get out, the substitutive has a definite threat to Microsoft.3.3.4 Power of BuyersThe products quality and quantity depends on the power of buyers. Nokias technique could not satisfy buyers enough to buy their products because of the lower level in the smart-phone market which cause buyers negotiate power are getting stronger. But Microsoft has good reputation and well system, after the acquisition of Nokia, it increases buyers confident of products which successfully stifle the bargaining power from buyers and raised profits.3.3.5 Power of SuppliersMobile phone suppliers had great competition before 2010, so enterprises picked very seriously of their suppliers which caused a low bargaining power in the market. After 2010, Apples products sold well and had significantly outstanding result which leaded to other enterprises profit sharply dropped down also suppliers got reduced by them at the same time. So Microsoft purchased Nokia at the right timing which earns a good bargaining power.4. The Value ChainAccording to Walters (2007), Microsoft knew that the company should have an efficient value chain and offering the customer great value with its products. People would discover that Microsofts value chain is solely integrated to crop-net which is their information technology infrastruct ure network. The management of central control and efficiency are brought by the integration with their technical capabilities, it allows them to use the minimum feat and minimum mistakes at the right time to make a rightdecision, thus value increased when cost saving. Microsoft provides software to them is minimal for need of logistics, because they can send the software through internet to the local agents. They also do customer services and maintenance by information technology, and they have to recruit, support, market, maintain, interview, finance, customer service, deliver, consult, advertise for the network.The development of technology is interior, there have the cost benefits of development and maintaining technology of value chain for compared to competitors. According to Johnson (2011), Porters Value Chain Model, gross profit has significantly increased after the Microsoft acquisition of Nokia. For the primary value chain activities, the inbound logistics of Microsoft allows Nokia to provide equipment, also the marketing and sale of Microsoft has many advertising computer program that can increase publicity and sales. Procurement area is an important part of the cooperation between Microsoft and Nokia. This development must source raw materials for the business and obtain the ruff price for doing so. The challenge for procurement is to obtain the best possible quality available on the market for their budget.At the same time, purchasing inputs that means it buys product cheaper from suppliers. Because of Microsofts core competence is the system software the development of mobile phone hardware is not completed. On the other hand, Nokias core competence has the good hardware system and stable suppliers source, so this result is becoming a win-win for both companies which reach the cost efficiency. Microsoft can directly use Nokias equipment to sell and reduce the costs, also it improves the margin. Figure 1 and Figure 2 shows that after Microsof t got the Nokia, both of them operating margin profit and market value increased. In summary, Value chain model defines the cost advantage after Microsoft acquisition of Nokia it achieves cost efficiency and associated with core competencies and capabilities in order to perform them better than do competitors.5. Retaliation of CompetitorsFacing acquisition of Nokia, current rivals and potential new entrants in mobile market which are Google, Apple and HP should do something to cut through with this Microsofts corporate-level strategy. As Burrows comment that Google and Apple did the same thing which is advertise their products. Forexample, Google-operated retail Web site, use Web meets phone as a statement for introducing. In terms of the five force, existing competitions will make a plan for strategic change form same industry, so new entrants does.6. RecommendationMobile space could be one of the serious problems for Microsoft in recent years. Windows Mobile platform is still dom inated by innovative in market, such as Apples iOS and Googles Android operating system. The plan of Microsoft to compete with those providers this year would be releasing Window Phone 7, although it is little bit late to the smart-phone market, Microsoft realizes what consumers really needed, and Window Phone 7 will be the best explanation in the next 3 to 5 years. Innovation has been a big issue for Microsoft, Windows is a special case as an innovative product when it first released, but Microsoft did not provide anything that even matching the innovation. Because of the competitors have developed more creative products, all companies want to be the main competitor in the high-tech space. Innovation is the most necessary element in the smart-phone market which Microsoft has to improve.7. ConclusionMicrosofts acquisition of Nokia is opportunities as well as challenges. As the analysis of opportunities and threats with Microsofts mobile phone business, for Microsoft entered lately t o the mobile market and the crash of the old mobile phone giant Nokia, how to achieve the advantage complementary through the merger of both sides, Microsoft has to put smart-phone system and PC operation system together as soon as possible to achieve the great new innovations of smart-phone. Microsoft has to be originality of mobile system for its business, it will be the big step for Microsoft to be success. Microsoft has been the dominant PC computer software manufacturer over years, but now the sales growth of the PC has slowed sharply because of consumers have been the turn of events to smart-phones and tablets. The sales of PCs expectation was 409 million units in 2011, it was a 15.9 % increased which lower than 18.1 % the previous estimate of the company.According to Research director of Gartner Ranjit Atwal (2013), thisresult reflects the weakening of consumer demand, the recent increase in shipment is expected to decline, increasing consumer interested in the iPad and oth er tablet PCs are the main factors leading to rising slowing sales growth of the PC in the long run. As Lomas comment that (2013), in the future of 2014, tablet will replace PC for over 10 % of sales, Microsoft and Intel believe that Windows software could attract a variety of users by the touch features, especially business users, and it inspires the development of Windows Tablet PC, touch-screen laptop and their products. Technology is the most influencing Macro environmental factor by the PESTEL analysis. Microsoft strategy through Bowmans clock as an explanation which both bases of differentiation and intended strategy for low price are detailed. Value chain diagnose the capabilities of the strategy as a tool, it proves that Microsoft strategy aligned well from this completed core. Also Microsoft had the abilities to resource the strategies by man power, technology, funds and information to win the position in the market.8. BibliographyAli-Yrkk,J., Kalm,M., Pajarinen, P., Rouvi nen, P., Seppala, T. and Tahvanainen, A.(2013). Microsoft Acquires Nokia Implications for the Two Companies and Finland. ETLA Brief Online Available From http//www.industriall-europe.org/Sectors/ICT/2013/ETLA-Nokia-%20MS-Muistio-Brief-16.pdf. Accessed 3rd September 2013Blandford, R. (2013). Why did Microsoft acquire Nokias Devices & Services business? Online Available From http//allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/18293_Why_did_Microsoft_acquire_Noki.php. Accessed 3rd September 2013Bamburic, M. (2013). What we know about Windows Phone 8.1 so far? Online Available Fromhttp//support.techlogic.net/index.php?/News/List/ superpower/134. Accessed 28th February 2014Burrows, P.(2010). Apple vs. Google. Businessweek. Online Available From http//cecs5580.pbworks.com/f/businessweek+Apple+vs+Google.pdf. Accessed14th January 2010BBC News. Microsoft to buy Nokias mobile phone unit.. Online Available From http//www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23940171. Accessed 3rd September 2013BBC News. Microsoft -Nokia deal Analyst reaction.. Online Available From http//www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23945652. Accessed 3rd September 2013CNET News. Microsoft to acquire Nokias device and services division. Online Available From http//news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57601025-75/microsoft-to-acquire-nokias-device-and-services-division/. Accessed 2nd September 2013Guy, A. (2011). Entrepreneurship and the value chain Importance, risks and suggestions. Advances in Management. 4(6). Pp.63-65.Johnson, G., Scholes, K., and Whittington, R. (2011). Exploring Corporate Strategy. FT Prentice Hall. Harlow.Lomas, N. (2013). Tablets To Grow 53.4% This Year, Says Gartner, As The Traditional PC declines 11.2%. Online Available From http//techcrunch.com/2013/10/21/tablets-vs-pcs/. Accessed 21th October 2013Microsoft Corporation. (2104).Company profile. Online Available From http//finance.yahoo.com/q/co?s=MSFT+CompetitorsMicrosoft to acquire Nokias devices & services business, license Nokias patents and mapping service s. Online Available From http//www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2013/sep13/09-02announcementpr.aspx. Accessed 3rd September 2013Ovide,S. (2013). Deal Is Easy Part for Microsoft and Nokia. Online Available From http//online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB100014241278873244324045790521127313496