Being a former Microsoft employee for 3.5 years, I really can tell you that this is how it works inside MS. Ideas for new products come from everybody at the company and different mailing lists, customer feedback from MCS (Microsoft Consulting Services) consultants, and product teams going out to meet with the customers. Though to be honest, in the ever changing Microsoft, it was always hard to find the people you need with everyone always changing roles...but a quick email to one of the focused mailing lists of "who is the best guy to talk about windows media technologies with a enterprise customers" will give you the best developer on the WM or MCS guru that’s deployed it in the field.
Now, MS has embraced blogging and involving the community leveraging the nearly ubiquitous internet experieince. The explosion in blogs/rss is allowing a Microsoft to pull a wealth of ideas in the community and helps MS create better products that consumers/businesses want. It was awesome to be with a company that was so self critical, but not afraid to take risks.
Off Topic – Lurking for many years, I know there is a large bunch of savvy IT guys on here that run technology consulting services to small and medium businesses. Is there anyone that knows a good community site of IT professionals online that provides a “activewin like” experience including: focused SB technology news, commentary and discussions of ROI for our customers (does MSO 2003 provide a good ROI with sharepoint portal or/ wireless access points that provide the best bang/buck, etc)? Sort of like AW/MyITforum/INC for small business with no IT politics :)
Six months ago, I left Microsoft to start a technology consulting business in New Jersey that provides Small/Medium business solutions planning (Virtual CIO). Since then, I can’t seem to find any really good sites that fit this niche but I am sure there is an interest. If none do exist in a high quality form, would any be interested in taking this offline and building the community or convincing the AW staff to start a new activesb.com?
This post was edited by humor on Monday, January 19, 2004 at 01:10.
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