Company: Microsoft
Date: 2012-01-06
Overall rating: 3/5
Employment status: former

No two business managers do the same thing at Microsoft
Pros: Every group uses business managers for different purposes. It is one position that Microsoft has failed in trying to normalize, which is a good thing. Business managers are the people who do "other duties as assigned," one after the other. They are about building things that don't exist, doing projects that just need to be done, and interacting with internal business partners.
Cons: In some areas the prospects for business managers is diminishing (Server and Tools, for example), as they seek to streamline the organization. There is also no career path for business managers, so you are up to your own devices on how you will move up within Microsoft. Business managers will never lead businesses. You will always be in a supporting role.