Competitive Advantage - Microsoft Case Essay Example for Free

free-enterprise(a) Advantage Microsoft Case EssayWhen trying to spill the beans of MSs success, the titles of two books from Bill provide slip into my mind. They be The Road Ahead and Business the speed of thought, which I would translate into Direction and Speed and could be the discernment for MSs success be good at setting strategy and adapting to the changes. However, to reframe them within the context of Modern warring Strategy, the reasons for MSs success are to create and maintain its modern COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES. With the analysis of it competitive advantages, MSs profitability was to a greater extent rely on its ability to DEFEND its market position rather than to create. To put it another way, the use of MSs resources and capabilities place be better understood in light of isolating mechanisms.On one hand, MS focus on increasing customer retention. Software is an experience good. It can be tell just now from the name Windows XP where XP is short for experi ence. For an experience good, the search costs, training cost and learning cost are high, which in turn help to increase customer retention. Here is a classic example. In 1998, Bill Gates gave his speech at Washington University and talk about piracy in China, and he said virtually 3 million computers loaf sold every year in China, but people dont deport for the software.Someday they will, though. As long as they are going to steal it, we want them to steal ours. Theyll get sort of addicted, and then well somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the succeeding(a) decade. For the same reason, MS bundled Office Suite, expanded server platforms, and gave many stuffs/features for free like IE and Media Player. We can expect the adding to the list will grow on and on. Its broad scope of products and global presence likewise helped MS to increase customer retention.On the other hand, MS defend its market position fiercely. A typical tactic used by MS is the prohibitive developme nt cost. For example, it spent $2 trillion alone in 2001 for its .net platform. When MS identifies a potential threat, it react with all of it resources and capabilities to compete with. Through come out technology, enticement OEM manufactures, or even giving for free, it won battles over Office Suite, OS, Internet browser and media player.As a result, MS stands above its competitors and reaps its profit like printing money. For example, while application software determine dropped by an average of 8.9% at 1989, MS could raise its OS price. While WordPerfect was priced at $79, MS aerated $249 for upgrades of Office 2000.The challenges MS faced somehow derived from its own marketing activities. The antitrust litigation is a prototype for its aggressive assault on its competitors. In general, Microsoft should keep focus on defending its market positions, utilise its resources and capabilities cautiously and smartly. Its isolation mechanisms could be enhanced by strategies like pro duct development and acquisition, platform integration, substance abuser and channel enticement, all happen at prohibitive cost.