Interesting article published on Directions on Microsoft, identifying the top strategic issues Microsoft needs to address over the next twelve months and beyond. And look what is number 1 :-) Have we not read this before?
1. Where Does Microsoft Want to Go Today?
The roadmaps for many major Microsoft products—including Windows XP, Office, and Exchange—don’t provide the detail customers and partners need to make good decisions. Customers and partners need multi-year product roadmaps with specifics about what capabilities to expect in a product and when to expect it. Otherwise, they can’t reliably schedule training, plan rollouts, or decide whether to sign up for multiyear software maintenance plans. Software developers also need roadmaps to plan their own products around Microsoft's. Investors need roadmaps to see where future growth will come from.
"Without credible product roadmaps, it's harder and riskier to invest in Microsoft and its products. In 2005, more Microsoft product groups should follow the lead of the Windows Server division and provide a clear public roadmap for major product releases through 2008."
—Rob Helm, Director of Research
Read the 9 other challenges here.