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Perhaps, according to Bloomberg who are reporting that Ballmer is looking to bring more engineers into senior positions, the idea being that folk who understand the technology are more likely to be able to sell it.
An interesting idea, but I'm not sure that understanding technology is the real problem; I think it's understanding customers.
CKurt
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@Ray7: Yes, but only understanding costumers might not be enough? You have to get the technology, especcialy if you want to drive the future direction. Not only the current products.
I guess 'Understanding Costumers' is easier to learn and catch up on then engeering. And understanding costumers now might not be the same as understanding them at the time you graduated.
It seems like a good thing to me, altough I'm probabbly biast since I'm an engineer 
@Ray7: I don't know if this move will help. MS seems to have a problem finishing a product. They see the market, they go 90% of the way, and then they release it. After a few updates they eventually get it right, but by then it's too late and their competitor has released a superior product.
Will adding engineers on the top fix this?
The company has gotten so big that sometimes it looks like the engineers "who are all smart/modern people" who know what has to be done but the higher-ups just don't get it so innovative stuff just sits there and is never fully developed and released.
It's been this way for years and everyone knows it but nobody seems to want to take a stand and make a change. Hopefully Balmer really means it and this can help MS release products that consumers (and the useless people who deliver mainstream news) talk about enthusiastically.
5 hours ago, Ray7 wrote
Perhaps, according to Bloomberg who are reporting that Ballmer is looking to bring more engineers into senior positions, the idea being that folk who understand the technology are more likely to be able to sell it.
An interesting idea, but I'm not sure that understanding technology is the real problem; I think it's understanding customers.
The thing is, the engineers ARE regular consumers so they probably understand the market better. They 're more likely to understand the feeling consumers get when they use a product that "delights" (to use a stupid marketting term).
29 minutes ago, dentaku wrote
*snip*
The thing is, the engineers ARE regular consumers so they probably understand the market better. They 're more likely to understand the feeling consumers get when they use a product that "delights" (to use a stupid marketting term).
If that were true, Linux would be a wonderfully useable product which 'delights' everyone who uses it, as opposed to, well, what it is.
Engineers are usually the worst people at understanding what 'real people' want, they're far too deeply involved in how it works that they rarely understand why those who aren't find decisions baffling or counter-intuitive.
Dr Herbie
Horses for courses
@AndyC: +1million
CKurt
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@Dr Herbie: Yes they do, but is engineers would have lead the 'Courrier' project would it have been brought to market? Probabbly, but that does not say anything avout if it would have been a good selling product.
Look at Google TV, it's a great idea and what most people want. But it's not a good product (right now).
Engineers at the top have to stop being engineers and focus 95% at the consumer market but keep in mind the technical capabilities.
they should put Anders in charge of the company.
Charles
Welcome Change
The Executive Shuffle is just a dance that's well entrenched in corporate civilization. Nothing more. Not sure where the author is getting his information, but we have made no public statements to this effect.
C
@SteveRichter: Does he have any consumer marketing experience?
Does anyone at MS have any consumer marketing experience? If so, could they please make themselves known in the vicinity of Steve Ballmer's office.
@Ray7: Good or bad, I wish they would run some kind of advertising at all.
There's always going to be an argument about who knows the customers better. What they need to realize is that the problem is really one of communication. Everybody has some piece of the puzzle and needs to listen to everybody else.
magicalclick
remember the flow
@AndyC:
While I agree with you, but, I believe I know what customer wants. 
It is simple. Make it as fancy and easy as possible. The best solution is to press a button and everything comes true.
elmer
I'm on my very last life.
@CKurt:FWIW, a "costumer" is an amusing typo... someone that deals in or provides costumes... obscuring the reality.
vesuvius
Count Orlock
@AndyC: I partially disagree.
People are pretty clued up nowadays, engineers are pretty savvy about what works, and otherwise. I work for a place that is split between engineers (mechanical and electrical), and software and all come under engineering.
The innovation that will regain success for Ballmer will be visceral and hardware...which is where I think this is all going!
CKurt
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@elmer: Oops, I always mix those to up. It's somthing different then the: their an there problem anyway Or the then than thingy.
My spoken English is better then my written English.
17 hours ago, magicalclick wrote
@AndyC:
While I agree with you, but, I believe I know what customer wants.
Apple has proven this to be the case. It doesn't matter how much better something is; if it's not simple and easy to use, no one will buy it.
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