One alternative way of obtaining this type of insight, however, is through some of the well-written books about Rule Makers. Today, let's take a peek inside the Microsoft corporate campus through the eyes of David Thielen, author of The 12 Simple Secrets of Microsoft Management . Microsoft's management style and corporate culture. Although the book is written primarily for business managers seeking to emulate Microsoft's success, I think we as investors can learn a lot of useful info. The author, Mr. Thielen, worked at Microsoft as a senior software developer on Windows 95 and several other projects.
Some companies focus on the bottom line.
Microsoft's culture is one of maximizing long-term profits by, in the near term, capturing market share in strategic markets. But don't confuse smarts with knowledge . Knowledge is for books on a shelf. Microsoft seeks individuals who can turn on their brains and really think. These are the types of people who create new ideas, catch errors quickly, and come up with a more efficient way of doing things.