Microsoft Corporation is a large organization in the application software industry, technology sector. It was founded in 1975 and currently employs about 90,000 people with the headquarters in Redmond, Washington. The company develops software for businesses and personal computers. Microsoft Corporation develops, licenses, and supports a range of software products and services for various computing devices worldwide. The company’s Windows & Windows Live Division segment offers PC operating system that primarily includes Windows 7 and Windows Vista operating systems; Windows live suite of applications and Web services; and Microsoft PC hardware products (finance.yahoo.com). Microsoft also offers enterprise consulting services and training and certification to developers and information technology professionals, as well as builds standalone and software development lifecycle tools for software architects, developers, testers, and project managers.
The company also offers gaming systems which include the well-known Xbox 360 and accessories such as Kinect and Xbox 360 games. Microsoft markets and distributes its products and services through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as through online (finance.yahoo.com).
Microsoft Corporation has been known to have an efficient value chain and offering the customer great value with its products. A value chain assists in creating competitive advantage, and this could be achieved in different ways. The organization has to place itself in a competitive position fist. The competitive position is a dynamic process, a “process rendered even potentially more dynamic by the drivers underlying the ‘new economy’” (Walters, & Rainbird, 2007, pg. 384). A value chain is also assisting in the creation of competitive advantage by implementing a strategy on extending the alliance and partnership models where shifts or migration of value are occurring among companies. Also a strong
References: Combs, T., and Walker, G. (2009, October). Connecting the consumer goods supply chain with visibility and collaboration. Connected Experiences for Consumer Goods. Microsoft. (2012, January). Customer and Partner Experience: Increasing the satisfaction of Microsoft customers and partners. General News Media Inquiries: Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, Rapid Response Team, (1) (503) 443-7070. Retrieved from http://www.microsoft.com/about/cpe/en/us/default.aspx Gantz, J., and Bibby, D. (2011, March). Partner opportunity in the Microsoft ecosystem. IDC. Guy, A. (2011). Entrepreneurship and the value chain: Importance, risks and suggestions. Advances in Management, 4(6), 63-65. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT). Company profile. Retrieved from http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=MSFT+Profile (2007, March 1st). Manage demand with consumer driven planning for Microsoft Dynamics AX. Consumer Driven Planning for Microsoft Dynamics AX. Intelligence. Supply chain visibility and collaboration. Microsoft Enterprise. Retrieved from http://www.microsoft.com/enterprise/industry/consumer-goods/solutions/supply-chain-visibility-collaboration.aspx#fbid=OlN1rkz23Ii Walters, D., & Rainbird, M. (2007). Strategic operations: A value chain approach. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.