Satya Nadella is forecasting massive opportunities and some difficult decisions in the future according to a company-wide email the CEO sent to Microsoft employees all over the world. Described as a sort of “State of the Union” address to company employees, the email was not posted publicly but the staff at GeekWire managed to obtain a copy.
Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
There was a time when Microsoft’s mission statement was to put a computer in every home and office. The company’s new mission statement recognizes that technology is no longer rooted to a desk or even our homes and offices. At another point in the email Nadella reiterates the company’s strategy which focuses on mobile and cloud technologies.
Nadella also recognizes the importance of an organization’s culture and wrote of the importance of a unified Microsoft. This is reassuring to see as Microsoft’s gaming division including Xbox was known to be in conflict with other areas of the company. However, Nadella also mentioned, “tough choices in areas where things are not working and solve hard problems in ways that drive customer value.”
We will bring together Xbox Live and our first-party gaming efforts across PC, console, mobile and new categories like HoloLens into one integrated play.
While the media often takes news of changes at Microsoft and speculates whether the company will sell off the Xbox brand, Satya Nadella made it clear that the console is still important to Microsoft and will be supported accordingly. “We will pursue our gaming ambition as part of this broader vision for Windows and increase its appeal to consumers,” the email states before concluding, “We will bring together Xbox Live and our first-party gaming efforts across PC, console, mobile and new categories like HoloLens into one integrated play.”
This email was sent approximately one week after the company announced a shake-up of its manageent structure which culminated in the notable departure of Stephen Elop and other executives. Elop had campaigned to become Microsoft’s new CEO and at one point advocated the company rid itself of the Xbox business.
It is clear that Microsoft’s employees are very excited about the Windows 10 launch on July 29th. Nadella is encouraging Microsoft employees to volunteer their time on that day to upgrade their local communities as a symbolic first step towards Microsoft’s vision of empowering the world.
