What is Microsoft?
Microsoft, founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, is one of the world’s largest technology companies. The company makes computer software and hardware, as well as cloud services. Its best-known products are the Windows operating system and the Office suite of productivity programs, but it has also created other popular tech products, such as the Xbox gaming console and the Azure cloud computing platform. The company is also involved in the social media space with the LinkedIn professional networking site and in the field of augmented reality with its HoloLens headset.
In the early days of personal computers, Microsoft was a relatively small company that focused on making its BASIC programming language widely available. Later, it developed MS-DOS, an operating system that was used on most IBM PCs and clones at the time. But it was not until the release of Windows in 1985 that the company really made a splash. This graphical OS changed the way people interacted with computers, and it helped to propel Microsoft into the spotlight.
Over the next several decades, the company diversified its product line and expanded into new markets. In the 2000s, it faced increased competition from new technology companies that sought to challenge its market dominance, and it was forced to modify some of its corporate practices to reduce its near-monopoly status. Nevertheless, it continued to innovate in the digital age with products like the Surface laptop and tablet, the Xbox video game console and the Azure cloud computing platform. In 2014, Satya Nadella took over as CEO from Steve Ballmer and led the company into new technological frontiers with a focus on artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
The company has a flat organizational structure with a board of directors that oversees the company and sets its strategy. The board is composed of mostly outsiders, which is common among publicly traded technology companies. Aside from the board, there is the Executive Team that handles worldwide matters and the Corporate Staff Council, which handles staff functions. The Corporate Staff Council includes the senior and group vice presidents of various business divisions, as well as leaders of the marketing section.
In terms of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, Microsoft is working to become carbon negative by 2030, which means it will remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it emits. It is also committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and it has several programs that are designed to get more women and minorities into technology careers. In addition, the company is involved in several philanthropic projects. It is a longtime sponsor of the Seattle Symphony and donates significant sums to educational institutions. It also supports the Special Olympics and the Gates Foundation.
