The Catalyst Code

Two Gartner analysts have laid out a doomsday scenario in which Microsoft’s Windows operating system is in danger of collapsing under its own weight. They point to Microsoft’s smaller and nimble rivals such as Apple and Linux as more innovative.

They have a point—up to a point. Microsoft has taken on the huge task of providing a platform that can handle everything from home PCs to huge enterprise servers and from very simple to highly complex tasks. The fact that so many users like Windows enough to continue using it, and thereby providing a standard for vast interconnected IT systems, is its strength. There’s a downside of course as well—it leads to a humongous code base which is hard to manipulate and it isn’t surprising that innovation is difficult given all the constraints that Microsoft has.

The problem with Gartner’s analysis is that they are comparing apples and oranges. Maybe it is quicker to develop the next iteration of the Apple OS and incorporate innovation more easily. But Apple would face the same problems as Microsoft if it hadn’t chosen to be a niche player. Linux has its strengths, too—but after almost two decades it hasn’t developed a rich set of applications for the enterprise or the home user.

I suspect it isn’t news to the folks in Redmond that they have some problems to deal with as a result of an incredibly complex and enormous code base. They need to become more nimble and quick—but within the constraints of their mission. So I think the question is what should Microsoft do differently given that (a) it really does have a diverse and enormous constituency to satisfy and (b) it isn’t going to serve anyone’s interest to literally go back to the drawing board given the installed base of users?