Can Microsoft Prevent Another Vista Debacle With Windows 7?
Microsoft has never had a customer-focused reputation. Like a bull in a china shop, it uses its market share to ram new programs and operating systems into the marketplace. No more was this more evident than with Microsoft Vista, the operating system no one seems to like. Microsoft forced its hardware partners and enterprise customers to install it, even though most were perfectly happy with XP.
Now, as Windows 7 prepares for its launch, Microsoft is taking steps to address customer concerns and preferences ahead of time, a new strategy for the software company. But will it work?
In today's issue of 1to1 Weekly, we ran a story about how Microsoft is interacting with online communities to build engagement and gain insight prior to Windows 7's full launch in 2010. The company has learned from its mistakes with Vista, and this time around is trying to be more proactive in its development around customer needs.
"We've tailored our efforts based on what we learned building Vista and I believe we've listened correctly to what customers were saying," says Stephen Rose, senior community manager at Microsoft.
Whether or not Microsoft's efforts will result in a perfect product remains to be seen. But at least the company is trying. Any company looking to innovate and succeed must include customers as part of the development and strategic process. It used to be a closed-door process, but now customers are an integral part to product development strategies. Only time will tell if the efforts pay off for Microsoft.
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