Do the reshuffle!
Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer is rumoured to be planning a shake-up at the top, designed to add a couple of senior product execs with an engineering background to Microsoft's management.
Business Week reported that a source told it the changes could take place this month. Last month Ballmer reportedly ousted server division president Bob Mulgia claiming Microsoft needed fresh leadership to focus on cloud software.
If the rumours prove true, the shake-up will apparently continue to try and promote managers with engineering skills.
It is thought the aim of the reshuffle is to better compete with Apple and Google's smartphone, tablet and web services prowess, plus staunch criticism from Microsoft's investors and board that the software giant has fallen behind in these markets.
Wes Miller, an analyst at research firm Directions, reportedly told the newspaper: "You see the engineering team ascending because Steve is realizing that there is a need to execute on a vision and in order to do that you have to actually understand how software is built. It's a whole other thing to be able to say, ‘I've been at Microsoft, I understand software, and what you are saying will or will not work."
It is predicted that Muglia's replacement will be an exec who is savvy about combining server software and cloud services but Microsoft has reportedly not commented on the rumours.
Business Week reported that Ballmer wants to sort out Microsoft's past mistakes that have left it lagging in the smartphone and tablet department, plus make sure Microsoft does not fall behind in the cloud space.
His leadership skills reportedly came under fire from the board in September's regulatory filing because of Microsoft's performance in the smartphone market, since when Windows Phone 7 has been launched.
However, Ballmer has already apparently shown willing to appoint engineers and product managers to run divisions at Microsoft, as Stephen Elop, who quit to Nokia Ovi was replaced by Kurt DelBene, an engineering leader instead of a marketing exec.
While it remains to be seen if the managerial shake-up will happen, such a move could temporarily take some of the heat off Ballmer, but Miller told the newspaper: "You can play pin the blame on the donkey, but the reality is Steve has to accept some of the blame. He also has to put the right people in the right places."
