Microsoft Corporation’s operations management (OM) in the 10 strategic decision areas addresses the productivity needs of the computer hardware and software business. The 10 decisions reflect the major business functional areas that require coordination to achieve optimal business performance. In the case of Microsoft, the 10 strategic decisions are intertwined with the ability to expand the business. This condition is linked to the global nature of the company’s supply chain and distribution network. As one of the biggest firms in the industry, Microsoft must continually develop relevant operations management approaches to address the 10 strategic decisions for maximizing performance and productivity.

The 10 strategic decision areas of operations management (OM) are effectively covered in Microsoft’s approaches. Business productivity depends on the effectiveness of operations managers in developing solutions corresponding to these 10 decisions to support Microsoft’s computer hardware and software operations.

Microsoft Corporation Just Saved the Xbox One Microsoft just made a few radical changes to the Xbox One that should help the console close the sales gap with Sony's PlayStation 4. Microsoft Corporation (/ ˈ m aɪ k r oʊ s ɒ f t / MY-kroh-soft) is an American multinational technology company with headquarters in Redmond, Washington.It develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services.

Microsoft’s Operations Management, 10 Decision Areas

1. Design of Goods and Services. This decision area of operations management deals with the strategies and tactics needed to develop profitable products. Microsoft Corporation initially focused on software design. However, through continuing expansion of the product mix and diversification of the business, the company’s operations managers now make broader strategic decisions. For example, their operational productivity decision-making processes now include computer hardware and software products, along with Microsoft’s cloud computing services. This condition increases the significance of operations management in designing goods and services for the company. The increasing variety of products also reflects Microsoft’s generic strategy and intensive growth strategies.

2. Quality Management. Operations managers are concerned with satisfying customers’ expectations about product quality in this strategic decision area. Microsoft’s approaches to operations management address these operational objectives through continuous improvement and innovation. For example, the company uses feedback systems to collect usage information from customers, and integrates such information in the next iteration of computer software products. Also, Microsoft heavily invests in research and development to achieve rapid innovation that keeps the business competitive against other technology firms. These approaches optimize productivity and organizational resilience, given market dynamics. Emphasis on quality supports the aims for helping and empowering customers, as included in Microsoft’s mission statement and vision statement.

3. Process and Capacity Design. In this strategic decision area, companies focus on resources and standards applicable to production processes. In Microsoft’s case, operations management relies on extensive automation to optimize capacity and processes. For example, in computer hardware production, the company automates production capacity allocation to minimize productivity bottlenecks. On the other hand, for software production, Microsoft’s operations managers streamline process design to reduce errors and increase operational efficiency in correcting software development issues.

4. Location Strategy. Proximity and access to resources, markets and supply chains are considered in this strategic decision area of operations management. In software development and distribution, Microsoft Corporation focuses mainly on human resource productivity within its corporate facilities. The company’s computer software products are easily distributed to target markets through the Internet. However, for hardware products like the Xbox, Microsoft must ensure nearness and accessibility to target markets around the world. For example, the company maintains business partners, such as authorized sellers. In addition, the firm adds more distribution channels by increasing the number of its Microsoft Store locations worldwide. Thus, Microsoft’s operations management approach in this strategic decision area involves a combination of virtual and physical locations to reach markets and maximize resource accessibility. These operational strategies are also reflected in the place element of Microsoft’s marketing mix.

5. Layout Design and Strategy. Operations management optimizes resources in this strategic decision area for the purpose of achieving efficient movement of human resources, information, and materials. Microsoft’s layout design integrates advanced computing technologies to facilitate such efficiency. For example, efficient movement of information is achieved through network technology, such as online computers in the workplace. On the other hand, efficient movement of materials is supported through Microsoft’s automation of production processes. Business partners are also provided with technological solutions to achieve operational efficiency and high productivity. Microsoft’s operations management also uses innovative layouts for ease of employee movement throughout its facilities.

6. Job Design and Human Resources. This decision area of operations management considers the recruitment, retention and development of human resources. Microsoft’s approach to job design emphasizes innovative thinking and a growth mindset. These characteristics support the firm’s technology innovation and product development goals. The approach also aligns with Microsoft’s organizational culture. On the other hand, to develop its human resources, the company uses training programs. For example, leadership development programs are used to identify and support leaders within Microsoft’s organization. Through these approaches, Microsoft ensures productivity and operational efficiency in its expanding computer hardware and software business.

7. Supply Chain Management. Operations managers address this strategic decision area by maintaining streamlined integration of the supply chain with other business activities. Microsoft Corporation’s global supply chain is monitored through computer networks. For example, personnel regularly input current supply status, which is transmitted to regional and corporate offices for monitoring. The resulting data is automatically analyzed to determine necessary changes in Microsoft’s supply chain. In addition, strategic decisions are based on real-time data representing the supply chain, distribution network, and other areas of the business. Microsoft’s operations management approach to this strategic decision area maximizes operational efficiency of the supply chain. The approach also optimizes the productivity of supply chain personnel. The resulting optimization addresses some of the opportunities and threats identified in the PESTEL/PESTLE Analysis of Microsoft Corporation.

8. Inventory Management. In this strategic decision area of operations management, inventory costs and holding are set to satisfy organizational needs, customer expectations, and supply chain capacity. Microsoft applies automation for managing its inventory for materials used in maintaining its online systems. For example, the company uses automated systems to determine when to update and upgrade its cloud computing services. The upgrades involve new materials like server components in Microsoft’s facilities. The same operations management approach is used for inventory management in computer hardware manufacturing, although Microsoft outsources production processes. The company’s operations managers apply perpetual methods, periodic methods, and serialized inventory management to maximize operational productivity in this decision area.

9. Scheduling. Intermediate and short-term scheduling to address resources and market demand is covered in this strategic decision area of operations management. In this regard, Microsoft’s objective is to use market conditions to determine the most suitable schedules. The company achieves high productivity in this decision area through decisions based on continuous market analysis. The operational significance of market analyses is their support for relevant decisions that accurately address current concerns in Microsoft’s business. For example, operations managers change intermediate schedules to suit current changes in demand for Microsoft’s Xbox units.

10. Maintenance. Operations management maintains adequate resources and processes in this strategic decision area. Microsoft Corporation needs to maintain its software development processes, as well as production capacity to maximize revenues. In software development, the company focuses on the sufficiency of personnel, such as programmers, to maintain rapid innovation through software design and iteration. On the other hand, in terms of production capacity, Microsoft’s operations management approach maintains high productivity through inter-organizational support. For example, to support outsourced production, the company provides current data to manufacturers. Such current data indicates intermediate changes in production to ensure operational adequacy of Microsoft’s supply chain.

Microsoft Corporation’s Productivity Criteria

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Microsoft’s productivity is based on personnel activity, manufacturing processes, software development processes, and equipment maintenance, among others. Operations managers consider these factors in evaluating productivity levels. The following are some measures or criteria Microsoft uses to assess and monitor productivity:

1. Units per day (Hardware manufacturing productivity)
2. Servers updated per day (Equipment maintenance team productivity)
3. Units sold per day (Productivity of Microsoft Stores)

References

• Liu, S., & Jiang, M. (2011). Providing Efficient Decision Support for Green Operations Management: An Integrated Perspective. INTECH.
• Microsoft Corporation, Form 10-K.
• Najdawi, M. K., Chung, Q. B., & Salaheldin, S. I. (2008). Expert systems for strategic planning in operations management: a framework for executive decisions. International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 9(3), 310-327.
• Schrunder, C. P., Galletly, J. E., & Bicheno, J. R. (1994). A fuzzy, knowledge‐based decision support tool for production operations management. Expert Systems, 11(1), 3-11.
• Verdaasdonk, P., & Wouters, M. (2001). A generic accounting model to support operations management decisions. Production Planning & Control, 12(6), 605-620.

This timeline shows the main events in Microsoft history.

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• 1975: Microsoft founded
• January 1, 1979: Microsoft moves from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Bellevue, Washington
• June 25, 1981: Microsoft incorporates
• August 12, 1981: IBM introduces its personal computer with Microsoft's 16-bit operating system, MS-DOS 1.0
• November 1983: Microsoft Windows announced
• November 1985: Microsoft Windows version 1.0 released
• February 26, 1986: Microsoft moves to corporate campus in Redmond, Washington
• March 13, 1986: Microsoft stock goes public
• April 1987: Microsoft Windows version 2.0 released
• August 1, 1989: Microsoft introduces earliest version of Office suite of productivity applications
• May 22, 1990: Microsoft launches Windows 3.0
• August 24, 1995: Microsoft launches Windows 95
• December 7, 1995: Internet by launching internet explorer a web browser.
• June 25, 1998: Microsoft launches Windows 98
• Jan. 13, 2000: Steve Ballmer named president and chief executive officer for Microsoft
• Feb. 17, 2000: Microsoft launches Windows 2000
• June 22, 2000: Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer outline Microsoft's .NET strategy for Web services
• May 31, 2001: Microsoft launches Office XP
• Oct. 25, 2001: Microsoft launches Windows XP
• Nov. 15, 2001: Microsoft launches Xbox
• Nov. 7, 2002: Microsoft and partners launch Tablet PC
• April 24, 2003: Microsoft launches Windows Server 2003
• Oct. 21, 2003: Microsoft launches Microsoft Office System
• Nov. 22, 2005: Microsoft launches Xbox 360
• Jan. 30, 2007: Microsoft launches Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office System to consumers worldwide
• Feb. 27, 2008: Microsoft launches Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008
• June 27, 2008: Bill Gates transitions from his day-to-day role at Microsoft to spend more time on his work at The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• June 3, 2009: Microsoft launches Bing search engine
• Oct. 22, 2009: Microsoft launches Windows 7
• June 15, 2010: Microsoft launches general availability of Office 2010
• Nov. 4, 2010: Microsoft launches Kinect for Xbox 360
• Nov. 10, 2010: Microsoft launches Windows Phone 7
• Nov. 17, 2010: Microsoft announces availability of Microsoft Lync
• June 28, 2011: Microsoft launches Office 365