Microsoft announces extensive internal reorganization to focus on “devices and services”

Microsoft has announced an extensive internal reorganization today to lead the company on its continued quest to be a “devices and services” leader.

While Steve Ballmer will continue to lead the company as CEO, but the person next in line, both to the proverbial throne and visible to consumers, is Julie Larson-Green, who will oversee all the devices and studio engineering, including all movement on future Surface devices.

Terry Myerson will now run the operating systems group, which as of the introduction of the Xbox One, encompasses desktop (Windows), mobile (Windows Phone) and console (Xbox).

Another big change is the ascent of Qi Lu to run the applications and services group, which builds apps, services and search.

Changes to the marketing, enterprise, business development and evangelism are also on tap, and partnerships with big companies like Nokia, Facebook and Yahoo are a bit part of that. Microsoft is perhaps realizing that is doesn’t do everything perfectly, and it seeking help from the right corporations at fill any gaps in its services or products.

Ballmer issued an extensive, invigorating memo to its 90,000 employees today, saying, “Going forward, our strategy will focus on creating a family of devices and services for individuals and businesses that empower people around the globe at home, at work and on the go, for the activities they value most.”

The goal is to focus the entire company “on a single strategy…working together with more collaboration and agility around a common goal.” Lack of agility and an inability to accept the inevitable and unending waxing and waning of the technology industry is what held the company back with the delayed introduction of Windows Phone, and not seeing the transition to tablet computing before it was too late.

The task before them, with the rise of Apple and Google, not to mention smaller startups eating their breakfast, is monumental. With the Xbox One launching later this year, and Windows 8.1 a big part of its desktop strategy, we’re interested to see how Windows Phone fits into the company’s future.

Source: Microsoft