Microsoft Loses Two Key Executives 163
DIY News writes "Microsoft lost two key employees amidst major reorganization announced last month. One of them has led several MSN efforts and another who was a top developer for the Office unit. According to Microsoft, 'when you have a company of 60,000 employees, people are coming and going all the time.'"
In Other Breaking News... (Score:3, Insightful)
Gagne: Undoubtably made very wealthy in his time at the big M and wants to blow his wad racing around in cars, outside the Microsoft parking lot.
Partovi: Likely also found rolling around naked in money, wants to try another startup. (He probably noticed something Microsoft will need in the future and wants to develop it on his own and then sell it for more biggie bucks.)
Neither of these will likely have much real impact so this is a Slow News Day article.
Also, at the back of the papers is something about Nemesis has been spotted, it's heading toward the Sun and will reach it in 11 years, when we'll all die horribly. Hmm. Guess I don't have to worry about Social Security after all.
Re:In Other Breaking News... (Score:4, Funny)
MS does something: "Oh, it doesn't matter, it's old, and they're evil, and I'm runing Linux since the 70s."
Google does something: "Ooooooooooooh, that's GREAT and soooo innovative!!!! I hope they will blow the M$ out of business really soon now!!!!"
Get a fucking job.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Re:In Other Breaking News... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:In Other Breaking News... (Score:2, Interesting)
http://www.axisofstevil.com/djballmerfresh.swf [axisofstevil.com]
Huh? (Score:2)
Re:Not all readers hate MS (Score:2)
Lemme guess... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Lemme guess... (Score:5, Funny)
Microsoft should be declaring bankruptcy any moment, now, give me karma.
Re:Lemme guess... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Lemme guess... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Lemme guess... (Score:5, Funny)
You must be really pissed to be +3 Insightful right now.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Lemme guess... (Score:5, Funny)
I doubt it, Funny mods give no karma. You'd have to make either an insightful, interesting or informative comment to earn that, and I don't think "pontificating about the impending demise of Microsoft" would be insightful.
*Starts whistling, hoping his comment was insightful enough*
(Yes, you can mod this funny, I'm in a good mood today)
Re:Lemme guess... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Lemme guess... (Score:5)
Re:Lemme guess... (Score:2)
Re:Lemme guess... (Score:1)
Re:Lemme guess... (Score:1)
Re:Lemme guess... (Score:1)
Actually, I believe it's also one of those threads where people criticize the predictability of such threads to get free karma. But you wouldn't know about that, would you?
And yes, I know it applies to me too. Gimme, gimme, gimme!
Re:Lemme guess... (Score:5, Funny)
two at the same time!?! (Score:2)
how does one pontificate *and* moderate in the same thread?
Re:two at the same time!?! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:two at the same time!?! (Score:2)
By checking "post anonymously" and submitting before clicking "moderate"...
But I didn't tell you that.
Re:Lemme guess... (Score:1)
Re:Lemme guess... (Score:1)
Here's the best way to do that:
http://www.axisofstevil.com/djballmerfresh.swf [axisofstevil.com]
Re:Lemme guess... (Score:2)
What I regret about this is that the meta-stuff is often becoming more important than the actual news. Concerning the Karma: it is only a number in a data base. Why would you want a high karma modifier if t
Let ME guess... (Score:1)
(Know how I could tell? It says "Slashdot" up in the corner.)
Microsoft sure is heartless (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Microsoft sure is heartless (Score:2)
Losing two key employees is carelessness.
I understand that employee tours through the Gates' underground mansion now requires that
each employee be roped to the next in line --
so this will not happen again...
First thrown chair! (Score:5, Funny)
OH NOES!!11 (Score:1)
ohh noes111 its teh chair1 rnu gagme1 run partomi1
rumor hazzit both executives were caught on IM by presidente Ballmer
Oh no! (Score:5, Funny)
I guess they'll have to just go to ACE Hardware for their keys, now, just like everyone else...
===
It's not too much of a shocker, people DO come and go all the time, even at big companies... status quo, IMHO.
This is news because...? (Score:3, Informative)
What a stupid "story".
Music, Maestro! (Score:5, Funny)
Altho this one [nyud.net] might be more appropriate.
More details (Reuters article) (Score:1)
REDMOND, WA (Reuters):
Bill Gates dropped the bombshell in a recent interview after the exit of two key executives, one to spend more time with a racecar hobby, and the other to start his own company. "That's it," he said, with a shake in his voice. "We're closing up shop. Without these two guys, I just don't think I can do it anymore... Balmie and I just can't keep throwing chairs as if..." His voice trailed off, and he ended his statement prematurely, but a Microso
From TFA: (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:From TFA: (Score:4, Funny)
Re:From TFA: (Score:2)
Re:From TFA: (Score:2)
My God! Won't somebody think of the chairs?!
Why Is This On Slashdot? (Score:5, Insightful)
That's a very true statement, especially when a company is going through a reorganization. This means absolutely nothing other than a slow news day on Slashdot. I'm actually confused as to why this ended up getting approved for the front page.
Re:Why Is This On Slashdot? (Score:2, Insightful)
Because slashdot has degenerated into a piece of self-aggrandizing shit?
b.
Re:Why Is This On Slashdot? (Score:2, Funny)
Ah, but on
Re:Why Is This On Slashdot? (Score:5, Informative)
So they will have something to dupe next week.
Re:Only on Slashdot. (Score:2)
Re:Why Is This On Slashdot? (Score:2)
recruiting (Score:1)
Re:recruiting (Score:2)
~phil
Well, at least they didn't.... (Score:5, Funny)
Good thing too.
Balmer's office furniture allowance is all gone for the quarter.
Re:Well, at least they didn't.... (Score:2)
Re:Well, at least they didn't.... (Score:2)
Why Is This Front Page News?!! (Score:4, Insightful)
But the editors know this is perfect trollbait to start flaming and mocking Microsoft. It's obvious that Microsoft bashing is a surefire way of driving pagehits up.
Zonk, get a life. Post real news or get lost.
Re:Why Is This Front Page News?!! (Score:2)
Translation (Score:3, Interesting)
On the first one, the summary of the story should be "There is one less executive after Microsoft reorganization" and should be self-explanatory. In the case of Office, everyone must remember it's Microsoft's ca$h cow (not Windows), now responsible for 1/3 of profit. Internally, someone didn't like the [current] progress or sales of Office.
In the case of the second one, that's 50-50 as to whether it's a push or not.
Gates as Kirk in "Wrath of Khan" (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Gates as Kirk in "Wrath of Khan" (Score:1)
Microsoft is dying ! (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Microsoft is dying ! (Score:1)
But did Netcraft confirm it?
Ballmer's chairs... (Score:1)
Re:Ballmer's chairs... (Score:1)
Modded funny or insightful? (Score:5, Funny)
Granted though... I could be moderated insightful for THIS post... so I'm betting against myself
Re:Modded funny or insightful? (Score:1)
In other news.... (Score:3, Funny)
I'm reminded of This is Spinal Tap (Score:5, Funny)
Marty: The last time Tap toured America, they where, uh, booked
into 10,000 seat arenas, and 15,000 seat venues, and it
seems that now, on the current tour they're being
booked into 1,200 seat arenas, 1,500 seat arenas, and uh
I was just wondering, does this mean uh...the popularity
of the group is waning?
Ian: Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no...no, no, not at all.
I, I, I just think that the.. uh.. their appeal is
becoming more selective.
Well that's good news! (Score:3, Funny)
I thought it was a virus or something. This story explains everything. What a relief.
Executives are overrated (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Executives are overrated (Score:3, Interesting)
At least they appear to render properly with firefox under GNU/Linux.
Re:Executives are overrated (Score:2, Insightful)
As far as a good executive not getting in the way; there are many engineers that have to be managed (which should be done properly, I admit) to ensure that projects stay on task and include the specifi
I disagree: Both are equally important (Score:5, Insightful)
Also moving up the ladder, those executives have the power to change an organization, and the great ones do it for the better.
I believe that in both management and in the technical aspect of the corporate world there are bad apples in both areas. Bad managers, bad engineers, and without good managers and engineers alike, all would hate their jobs.
A quick note: I'm working on a project right now at the city hall of a very large city. There's myself who is the low level information guy (mostly monkey work), my boss who's a professional materials manager, and then there's the project manager who's a great public speaker. He's the one that's been carrying this project because he's able to cut through all the bullshit with all the city divisions, and no doubt he'll be the one carrying us when our project comes to council next month.
You've never worked at MSFT, my friend (Score:2)
One other thing
That's what you get (Score:3, Funny)
so which is it? (Score:3, Interesting)
From the slashdot article "quoting" Microsoft: According to Microsoft, 'when you have a company of 60,000 employees, people are coming and going all the time.
But in this Slate article [msn.com] is the snippet that we continue to have the lowest turnover in the industry? , (as part of a question Bill Gates raised about continuing to make Microsoft an attractive place to work).
Seems these two statements conflict, both tailored to serve the spin necessary. So, what is it? Is Microsoft suffering from an exodus or do they truly have one of the lowest turnovers in the industry?
Re:so which is it? (Score:2)
The do no such thing. Having low turnover is not the same as having none.
Re:so which is it? (Score:5, Insightful)
If Microsoft has an incredibly low turnover rate of 1% a year for example, that still means that 600 people a year are "coming and going", that's 2 a day! I'd say that that means the statement of people coming and going all the time is pretty straight forward and truthful. That means that both statements could be 100% true and not conflicting in any way.
But you are right, journalists with adjendas and corporate statements will make use of whichever number looks better for their cause.
The only tragic thing is when people can't see that and assume that someone is outright lying or wrong which, at least in this example, is not the case. Both statements, sitting side by side, are perfectly truthful and neither one by itself spins anything.
OT: Sig (Score:2)
Yes, and be sure to make that clear to your project managers.
Re:so which is it? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:so which is it? (Score:2)
How much stock are these guys selling off? It may be another indication that there is serious doubt and trouble inside Microsoft. They can ride Windows and Office only so far. The competitors out there are getting better and people are starting to realize there is an option. The next few years will see Microsofts do
Significant Loss? (Score:3, Insightful)
Rearranging (Score:3, Funny)
Microsoft lost two key employees amidst major reorganization announced last month
See, That's what you get when you start rearranging stuff and can't remember where you put it.
Re:Rearranging (Score:1)
Did they... (Score:4, Funny)
Too big (Score:2)
Claim your reward (Score:3, Funny)
I am the Fiduciary Collections Officer for the Bank of Mwuangabana e Sanctu Spiritu, Lagos, and am seeking by the same a trustworthy and reliable partner concerning the deposition in cash specie of 7.8 million dollars US by dependable American business the Microsoft Corporation for information leading to the identification of two missing persons. Now I find the money unclaimed and wish to transfer
And strong were these key executives? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:And strong were these key executives? (Score:1)
They worked for Microsoft. They were at best 2-bit executives.
Whew! (Score:1)
Microsoft Loses Two Executive Keys
I certainly do not prevent Bill or Steve from taking their daily dump. Bill just turn 50 and it's important for him to say regular.
hmmm.... (Score:4, Insightful)
Bill: You're free now, boys. Run, play, live.
The executives cock their heads uncertainly, look at each other, and then bound off into the bush together. Bill reaches into the trunk, pulls out a Shop Vac, and proceeds to vacuum the interior of the trunk. Bill then walks calmly back to the driver's side of the vehicle, sits in the driver's seat and pulls the door shut. The engine starts. The car does a two point U turn and proceeds to leave the scene, going the way it came.
Re:hmmm.... (Score:2)
Microsoft loses two key employees... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Microsoft loses two key employees... (Score:2)
Microsoft lost two executives... (Score:2)
Did anyone read the head lines? "Micorsoft lost two executives"! Where is the amber alert when you need one?
Let's start a search party and go help find them. They may be lost and hurt somewhere in Redmond. They need to be found quickly before they wander away and are lost forever.
I mean there is no telling if they might wander into another company and start making trouble all over again. We must collect them and return
In other news... (Score:2)
Revolving doors (Score:2)
Sounds like the manager of the Taco Bell down the street, except replace "60,000" with "sixteen".
ho hum (Score:2)
In other news, Harriet Meiers has opted for an early retirement package from the Supreme Court... to spend more time with her family...
I know they've got 60,000 employees... (Score:2)
Something seemed wrong, (Score:2)
Walt Disney Company: 129,000
International Business Machines(IBM): 369,277
Samsung Group(2003): 195,000
Citigroup, Inc: 294,000
Sun Microsystems: 35,000
Apple Computer, Inc: 13,426
Google, inc: 3,021
Electronic Arts: 6,100
Novell: 6,186
Dell Computers: 55,200
Hewlett-Packard Company: 151,000
As Donald Rumsfeld Gates VII said (Score:2)
Re:Redmond Weather forecast: Balmery today with .. (Score:2)
~X~
Re:Go find them! (Score:2)
*Whoooooooooosh* *CRASH!!!*
Nice suggestion, dumbass.
~X~