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Steve Ballmer’s Take On Strategy (and Google)
By Adam | March 29, 2007
Steve Ballmer, the energetic CEO of Microsoft, recently visited the Stanford Business School to discuss entrepreneurship. Luckily CNET captured a highly entertaining video of the event.
Along with some interesting criticisms of Google’s approach to growth, Ballmer outlines the four stages of business strategy:
Stage 1: Invent something
Stage 2: Get the idea/product/application/service to critical mass
Stage 3: Milk the critical mass (i.e. Cash-in)
Stage 4: Create a culture where you can do #1,2,3 again
For me, the most interesting argument raised is the criticality of ‘Stage 4’. While a lot of entrepreneurs come up with cool ideas – and some even cash in on them – it is rare to find those that can take an idea to the top and start the loop over again.
(video link via Ben Casnocha)
Topics: Strategy |
