Answers should be in between 200-250 words.

Case Study-Microsoft

Microsoft knowledge management, a result of culture: From near bankruptcy in the late 90s, to one of the worlds most successful and lucrative just ten years later, Microsoft has a laundry list of things they have done right. Since Dec. of 2020, as recently reported by CNBC, Microsoft s market cap has grown $785 BILLION, and each one of the events mentioned in the timeline above has directly (along with others) contributed to this astronomical growth. Microsoft s success stems from the mastery of several areas of business including, but not limited to, supply chain management, knowledge management, and operations. For the purpose of this posting we well note Microsoft s strengths in regards to knowledge management. (a) Microsoft s ability to create knowledge (creation of product categories [Windows]. (b) Microsoft s ability to constantly change its structure and goals with the release of every new or updated product. (c) Microsoft s ability to constrain its secrets so there are limited leaks, despite the fact that its people leave at the end of every day, and its people are its greatest resource. Microsoft s decision to keep its software specifically and solely for its products, and vice-versa knowledge management is Microsoft s fundamental core competency, and the reason it is successful in its most lucrative attribute, innovation.

Without knowledge management, Microsoft s innovation would not be relevant, because the information would get out long before the products themselves do.

Microsoft s culture implanted by its great pioneer Bill Gates, Paul Allen is what keeps Microsoft employees loyal, and inevitably this translates to the brand loyalty demonstrated by the customers of the company.

Is it possible for Microsoft to lose at this point in the game, and what are some ways that could happen?