New in "Hardcore Software" is a post about "strategy tax" and when these first started to show up at Microsoft c. 1998 or so. MS was going through a transition from retail to enterprise products... 1/ …rdcoresoftware.learningbyshipping.com/p/053-strategy…
2/ The first time I really saw a broad strategy tax in play was on a trip to Japan and seeing the amazing Sony VAIO PictureBook--first laptop I used with a webcam. Amazing PC. Also it added a "Memory Stick" over time as did everything Sony made. Seemed crazy and annoying. 
3/ BillG was in Japan at the same time and I guess he'd been briefed by Idei / Morita about it, of course loved it (DRM!)
In an umteenth meeting on storage, I made a joke about using "local storage" like Memory Stick. BillG "Yes, that’s called strategy. Why can’t we have that?"
In an umteenth meeting on storage, I made a joke about using "local storage" like Memory Stick. BillG "Yes, that’s called strategy. Why can’t we have that?"
4/ One of the main characteristics of enterprise software (at least as defined by IBM before it and now Microsoft) is the idea of a broad technical strategy. All the pieces fit together. Plus, the pieces are often talked about long before how/why/what they are is known.
5/ "Storage" is a strategy initiative that spanned decades at Microsoft, going way back to when I worked for Bill as Tech Asst.
The key reason was because Lotus Notes had an innovative storage system with client/server symmetry. Huge achievement. MSFT had nothing.
The key reason was because Lotus Notes had an innovative storage system with client/server symmetry. Huge achievement. MSFT had nothing.
6/ As a result, Exchange (the lead competitor vs Notes) needed to solve this storage issue. That meant the client in client/server needed to solve it too. And that was Outlook. But Outlook had its own problems.
7/ Chief among these, Outlook got pulled away from Office (organizationally) to go after the internet. It even did a whole "interim" release focused on non-Exchange customers.
Imagine that--how off strategy could that be when you think about it? So much it was an eye poke.
Imagine that--how off strategy could that be when you think about it? So much it was an eye poke.
8/ The problem was the idea of "Web Store" (server) and Local Store (or later LIS) was being talked about in the press already, long before the release of Exchange and certainly Outlook was done.
So Outlook was off strategy in everything, and now we had to get it on track x 2.
So Outlook was off strategy in everything, and now we had to get it on track x 2.
9/ The essence of a strategy tax is that the closer you get to work (and further from strategy) the less this even makes sense. The problems Outlook was having were immense--the product was poorly received--had nothing to do with storage. That's why it was a tax.
10/ Please consider subscribing. Read about how GM of Outlook took a $100K private jet ride courtesy Boeing to learn how broken Outlook was, even though storage had nothing to do with it.
Also this was the first of three times this strategy tax came up!
…rdcoresoftware.learningbyshipping.com
Also this was the first of three times this strategy tax came up!
…rdcoresoftware.learningbyshipping.com
11/ What are strategy taxes you dealt with? I have a feeling this is an area ripe for stories from across the industry. // END
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