When word leaked late in 2000 that Microsoft planned to acquire Great Plains, the ensuing skepticism wasn’t much of a surprise. The companies, after all, appeared to be fundamentally different. With nearly 50,000 employees worldwide, Microsoft was headquartered in the Seattle suburb of Redmond. Great Plains, which at the time of the acquisition had 2,000 team members -- the term the company preferred for its employees -- was based in Fargo, N.D. Microsoft was known for delivering software and services to a broad range of customers. Great Plains had a reputation for developing software for small- to medium-size businesses; its relationship-based culture was a reflection of its mission statement: To improve the lives and business success of partners and customers.
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