Microsoft Secrets: How the World’s Most Powerful Software Company Creates Technology, Shapes Markets, and Manages People
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Microsoft Secrets: How the World’s Most Powerful Software Company Creates Technology, Shapes Markets, and Manages People Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 15 ratings
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Microsoft commands the high ground of the information superhighway by owning the operating systems and basic applications programs that run on hundreds of millions of computers around the world. Beyond the unquestioned genius and vision of Bill Gates, what accounts for Microsoft's astounding success?

Drawing on almost two years of on-site observation at Microsoft headquarters, eminent scientists Michael A. Cusumano and Richard W. Selby reveal many of Microsoft's innermost secrets. This inside report, based on 40 in-depth interviews by authors who had access to confidential documents and project data, outlines the seven complementary strategies that characterize exactly how Microsoft competes and operates, including the "Brain Trust" of talented employees and exceptional management; "bang for the buck" competitive strategies and clear organizational goals that produce self-critiquing, learning, and improving; a flexible, incremental approach to product development; and a relentless pursuit of future markets.

Cusumano and Selby's masterful analysis successfully uncovers the distinctive way in which Microsoft has combined all of the elements necessary to get to the top of an enormously important industry - and stay there.

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  1. Listening Length
    18 hours and 3 minutes
  2. Author
    Michael A. Cusumano, see all
  3. Narrator
    David Drummond
  4. Audible release date
    February 9, 2016
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  7. ASIN
    B019G2YO7M
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 18 hours and 3 minutes
Author Michael A. Cusumano, Richard W. Selby
Narrator David Drummond
Audible.com Release Date February 09, 2016
Publisher Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B019G2YO7M
Best Sellers Rank #269,453 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#218 in History of Computers & Technology
#290 in Business Infrastructure
#401 in Computing Industry History

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
15 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Joao Cortez
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Insight Into The Most Powerful And Successful Software Company In The World
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2007
Verified Purchase
Let me start by saying that the only thing I regret about this book is that it's more than ten years old. Michael Cusumano and Richard Selby did a very professional and objective deep study about Microsoft in various dimensions: history, culture, organization, management, process, people. Of particular interest is the daily build process, the testing organization and process and the project structure. If you are a Software Engineer like myself, you are just going to love this book!
2 people found this helpful
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J. G. Heiser
4.0 out of 5 stars Good lesson in Software Product Management
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2000
Fascinating detailed account of how the most significant firm in the industry makes product and marketing decisions. Cusumano and Selby were given unprecedented access to Microsoft staff at all levels of the firm.
This text is most interesting to high-tech weenies who want to understand how Microsoft organizes its product development and market introduction. Like IBM, Microsoft feels that a market leader is obligated to create its own language. If you want to know the difference between a MSFT Program Manager and a MSFT Product Manager, get this book.
19 people found this helpful
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K. Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars The Good But Not The Bad Nor The Ugly
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2002
The Good
Where do most of the worst business people come from? M.B.A. schools usually. Students with strong academic skills with the honored M.B.A. can do the accounting, statistical work, and market research analysis. But does that mean they have a "business mind," or good "business sense?" Absolutely not. (That's why a new test is being devised to determine the "common sense" abilities of MBAs). Gates is a perfect example of the many successful business people who didn't spend time in front of Ph.ds in ivory towers regurgitating "business theories and paradigms."
A look into the technological and mainly business side of Microsoft, the author breaks down the organization into the "how's, why's, and what's" of MSFT.
It's common knowledge that Gates is a genius in the technical realm, and MSFT is a behemoth organization that has the majority of market share. But how did Microsoft grow to where it is and thrive in this ever-changing and competitive industry? This book explains the business (more than technical) philosophy, model, and actual examples from products and projects. Interviews with former and current managers and employees are also included.
Again, it's common knowledge that Gates is exceptional at business. Ask their competitors. Note that Steve Jobs had a better product that was on the market earlier but he lacked the business, marketing, and management acumen. Gates not only seeks out brilliant techno minds but considers their business sense equally important, and this is heavily weighed when he decides to hire prospective candidates. Those hired are also individualists who will challenge him and other superiors, and argue and debate with him, in the search for the best idea or model. An employee gets Gate's respect, the author writes, "when his employees yell back." If Bill is converted by their arguments as opposed to his, he likewise changes course, taking the best route.
One of the most dangerous and damaging things to a company, and any organization, are "yes men." A company culture that rewards the "yes man/woman" mentality leads people to misrepresent themselves and their work, and the managers and ownership eventually become "out of the loop." This leads to uninformed decisions, cover-ups, resentment, and alienation that benefit no one.
This is written for the laymen, but can be a bit dry. Things such as shipping strategies, keeping teams small on projects, constant self analysis and critiques, and the reliance on customer feedback, are some of the many interlinking factors of the organization. The company likes people and departments that are interdependent upon one another to be physically close to one another. I.e., in the same building or on the same property, so if there is a problem or a need for clarification, they can see each other face to face to discuss it, instead of swapping emails, voicemails, and engaging in converence calls from across the country. Again, it's common knowledge that a major tenet of MSFT is to find out where the industry is going in the future, become the leader, and provide products with such strong quality that they become the "industry standard." The author even provides some organization charts to pin-up on your wall.
Not The Bad And The Ugly
The point of this book was to focus on the positives. The strategies and models that make the company pre-eminant. What is not in the book is: the common claim that the company is a monopoly, engages in unfair business practices, and limits the choice of consumers by ramming its product down their throats. There have been numerous charges and lawsuits that MSFT treats employees poorly. This company hires a lot of temps, work them overtime, plays with them, and then discards them. For the positives, read this book. For information on the not-so-great things about this organization, there are plenty of other books to read.
18 people found this helpful
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Frank Fillmann
5.0 out of 5 stars Great insight into how Microsoft works and how it's structured
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2014
Great insight into how Microsoft works and how it's structured.
A must-read company profile for knowledge workers, managers, directors, C-levels, and entrepreneurs.
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Gabriel E.
4.0 out of 5 stars It's a great book about Microsoft's management model.
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 1998
Microsoft Secrets takes an in-depth look into the company's management model, it's hierarchical structure, organizational culture and policies for development, HR, and more. May be Microsoft's management model cannot be used in most of industries , but this doesn't make this book less useful, since this book is full of interesting insights about the software company, which remains agile despite its size.
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars There are reasons because MS is a 4 billion dollar company
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 1997
You have to admit: you can adore them or you can hate them, but if your work is related to the IT you should care about Microsofties. They shape our lives each day, with their software, their operating systems and their languages and so you should know about them. And, between the books I've read about this subject this is absolutely the best. Well written, informative and not too caring about pleasing Microsoft (as other books, from people working for MS, could be).
Beside the inside stuff (really useful, for example, if you plan to do a job interview with Microsoft) a lot of the technologies explained in the book for dealing with people, sofware development and organization could be adopted to your way of work, also if you're not Bill (but maybe you're planning to become one!).

Highly recommended
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Prof.M.T.THIAGARAJAN
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in India on July 27, 2015
Verified Purchase
Very well-written
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