The problem at Microsoft
The story went down like this.
The Financial Times ran a story claiming Google are moving away from Windows because ‘it’s known for being more vulnerable to attacks by hackers and more susceptible to computer viruses than other operating systems’. The whole story was attributed to unnamed Google employees.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/d2f3f04e-6ccf-11df-91c8-00144feab49a.html
Brandon LeBlanc, a Windows communications manager, responded trying to set the record straight in a defiant sort of way.
http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2010/06/01/windows-and-security-setting-the-record-straight.aspx
IT News in Australia reported on LeBlanc as ‘Microsoft hits back …’
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/213797,microsoft-hits-back-over-windows-security-claims.aspx
Let’s lay aside the cynical observation that Google are releasing their own operating system in a few months and a bit of mud throwing at Windows is in their interest.
This little episode seems to me to bring into stark relief the problem at Microsoft. Obviously it’s clear that Bill selfishly took all the vision with him when he left and that’s been a weeping sore. I mean the immediate problem.
Their problem might appear to be that they are under attack on every side. But that’s a smoke screen. Almost every business I see is under attack from somewhere. Google are under attack for keeping all that WiFI data about everyone. Facebook is under attack for cynical privacy policies. Apple are under attack over flash player and 17 people who committed suicide at some iPad factory. The lists long and distinguished.
I think the real problem here is - they don’t know what to do about it.
You see, contrary to first appearances, a foaming at the mouth rabid self defence, like we got from Brandon, is not the way ahead. Brandon might say the mouth foam wasn’t that thick, and the biting really quite mild - but my point remains. Teflon does not work by throwing mud back at others, deflection is the key.
Microsoft should start by drawing a great big long line in the sand, swallowing their pride, sacking the P.R. people and just fronting up to their problems honestly. People hate spin. People like candid and honest. People can forgive the imperfect. I myself, despite appearances, are imperfect and live from day to day clinging to forgiveness.
The simple truth is that in the cold light of hindsight XP was a security disaster.
Sure there are lots of mitigating factors around that disaster. XP was written millions of years ago, only shortly after the dinosaurs if I correctly recall. It’s easy to argue no one should still be using it. When they were writing it useful hindsight wasn’t easily to hand. And although these, and many other, mitigating factors are probably true, and this is key - nobody - really - cares.
Did you get that?
Stop trying to defend the indefensible. Just fess up and move on.
One of those lovely Simpsons moments applies here. Homer makes some silly suggestion or other, to which Marge says ‘But just the other day you said … ‘. Homer then gives the masterly reply ‘The other day, the OTHER DAY? - stop living in the past Marge!’.
Now is the time to break with the past. Conduct a high profile campaign to stamp out all use of XP at Microsoft and it’s affiliates. Direct all the security criticisms back at XP where they belong, confess all the problems with XP are real and tell people to move on. That XP just can’t cut the pace any more. That the endless patching of it is a loosing battle. A rear guard action can never result in victory.
Say to every one that you’ll do your level best to keep it going for as long as you can - but you can’t promise success on that front anymore. It’s just too old. XP is a delicate flower that was never meant to live in such a toxic environment as the internet is today.
That way, next time Google throws mud, you respond by saying, ‘I think you’ll find the fact is that XP is more vulnerable and susceptible - and on that front we agree completely. Have we shown you our new Windows 7, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised’.
Sadly, I don’t think his will happen without visionary leadership.
Proud, sweaty leadership rarely chooses such a high road as I’m suggesting.
So maybe Bill running off with all the vision is still the problem after all.
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