Why is it going to be difficult for Microsoft to achieve the Innovation culture?

_Microsoft retakes the innovation crown with its new focus on creativity Up until a few years ago, experts in the innovation space were using Microsoft as a case study for failing to innovate. They showed how Microsoft had \"missed the boat\" on several important technological trends, including losing search to Google, smartphones to Apple, operating systems and Ofce to Web 2.0 applications and apps to both Apple and Google. And to a degree, they had a point. Since Bill Gates handed over the gig of CEO to Steve Ballmer, an Operations-focused Executive, Microsoft had managed to signicantly grow its reach, revenue and protability of its core Windows, Ofce and Server products. But this focus on current product optimisation and sales came at the opportunities mentioned above. In fact, Stanford University professor Steve Blank has shown that quite often, when visionary company founders nally step down, they are often succeeded by more operations-focused executives to help build more stable growth for the company, but this often leads to decreasing rates of innovation and ultimately stagnation of product lines. Then in eay 2014, Ballmer passed the CEO torch on to Satya Nadella, who was much more aware of the need to stay innovative. And to say that he has managed to restore the innovation momentum at the company would be an understatement. Within just two months, Nadella had completely changed Microsoft's core ethos and business model, going from being product-centric to being service-centric. Within a year, he released innovative new hardware concepts to the wond like Surface tablets and HoloLens. A few months later, he showed the world that the company was now a major player in hardware innovation with the Surface Book. And then this week, Microsoft again held their Windows 10 event to show off their newest innovations, including both new hardware and updates to Windows which will have a bigger impact for future generations than you might expect. There are three main highlights which focus on here: 1. 3D is now a focus of simplicity in Windows: Make no mistake, Microsoft Paint now including 3D drawing might seem insignicant, but this is going have a huge impact 5 10 years down the line. Why? Because the main limiting mgment is the lack of skills associated with designing SD objects. And those skills are best developed by introducing people to the concepts early in life, like in childhood. I remember clearly being the rst generation to use MS Paint in Windows M being excited to ll a shape with a different colour. While that itself is a simple (and somewhat worthless) skill, it starts the interest and learning journey which means I can now use more advanced image software like Photoshop. And in addition to designing objects in SD in Paint, Microsoft is also producing smartphone camera technology to produce 3D renderings of real Menabling 3D objects from Minecraft to be imported. .5_ll_gt these creations can then be printed using a 3D printer. Hear my prediction now: This is going to be the introduction to SD design for millions of people which will make the skill mainstream in the next decade. 2. The new Surface Studio hardware: Shown in the image at the top of the page was the major hardware announcement from the event: a new all-in-one PC called Surface Studio, built specically for professional creatives like designers, architects, writers and artists. The machine sports a 28-inch screen with incredible resohion and which is apparently the thinnest screen on the market, touch sensitivity so it can be drawn on like paper, and an integrated hardware box which houses pretty powerful components. But the real differentiator is the special hinges which allow the touch screen to effortlessly be moved from upright down to a 20 sketching angle, to directly replace the paper-based drafting table so many of these creatives use every day with a superior digital alternative. Just like the Surface Book of last year, the industry is now starting to agree that Microsoft is at the forefront of designing the most powerful, innovative and (most importantly) beautiful hardware in the world. This is important, because not only does Microsoft make billions selling their Surface hardware, they are showing the highest-end design-conscious consumers that Apple is no longer the king of innovation. Which couldn't have come at a worse time for Apple, because... 3. Apple are starting to l_a_g_l:_|!1_ipgl_ when it comes to innovation: Tim Cook has had a hard time replicating the innovation success of Steve Jobs. During his reign so far, the only truly new product offering they have come out with has been the Apple Watch, which so far has been a bit of a gimmick. The critical consensus of the new MacBook is that once again the hardware is wonderful, but that the new Touch Bar isn't exactly bold n}y_i_n_n_qvatign_. In fact, compared to the Microsoft event the day before, many critics are agreeing that Microsoft may have actually _qverta_k_e_n_ Apple as the most innovative maker of computers out there right now, with bolder new ideas which actually add value at the high-end. It is no surprise that Microsoft is nally putting investment and effort to ignite not only the creativity of the people using their products, but the people behind the scenes making them as well. Satya Nadella has openly talked about how innovation and creativity will be vital to grow and compete in the coming m is now enabling that attitude amongst his people as well. It is no wonder that the upcoming update to Windows 10 is being called the \"Creator's Edition\