The 12 Simple Secrets of Microsoft Management

by David Thielen

Book Overview

Written by a Microsoft insider, this book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the close-knit corporate culture and the unique management style that have evolved and flourished at Microsoft. Thielen has uncovered the management secrets that have allowed this one-of-a kind company to attract and keep the right kind of people, go after and get serious market share, generate near-total devotion from employees--and keep on growing.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0071342486
• ISBN13: 9780071342483
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
• Length: 181 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Some simple but powerful secrets.

A very to easy book to read and you normally wonder why more companies are not doing such simple things such as making the employees feel responsible and management leading by example. The book gives you a good insight of how things work in Microsoft.

Microsoft is a 25,000 Strong Startup

This excellent book gives a good view of what makes Microsoft Microsoft. It is a startup that kept acting like one. World Domination requires Performance, everything else falls by the wayside. Microsoft is not about Frat guys/good old boys in managment. It isn't about dreesed for success, politics, presentation, being nice, perks, family values. It is about being the best through using intelligence in cuthroat debate to achieve understanding - then using that understanding to execute, execute, execute. While this perfomance driven environment cuts the b.s., it is a harsh reality. Microsoft has managed to stay lean, even through fat years. If the author is right, companies following this philosophy will destroy or incorporate everything else. The problem is that most companies and people can't handle success. Once they're rich, people get slack, they're not as hungry or aggressive.Read this book.

Best in Class

This book seems to be written in an extremely objective fashion, neither gushing or slamming to Microsoft. It reports the observations of someone who has spent time "On the inside" and appears to have no agenda or axe to grind. It is far more informative than anything written by Gates or his ghost writers. It discusses agressive Microsoft business practices that may not be palatable or ethical, but are certainly effective. In the final analysis, it is primarily a book of common sense business wisdom in a short and enjoyable read.

Great reading - and fun along with eye opening.

This book should be required reading for anyone entering the management field in this new era we all find ourselves in. If half of what is in this book is actually practiced at Microsoft it's no wonder that they do quite well, thank you. Probably the only reader who might find this book disturbing would be the typical CEO or VP of one of this country's huge lumbering corporations. As an employee of one of these at present I find much that hits home.

One of the best management books I have read

If this book truly describes Microsoft, and the author's background at Microsoft makes that likely, this is an incredibly valuable book. I've read other books that talk about Microsoft but this one explains their entire system. This book lays out a management culture that is very different from what I have seen at most companies. I think I now really understand why Microsoft is able to do so well. I plan to read this book again in 3 months.