Strategy for Competing with Microsoft: Fight or Flight?
ASSIGNMENT
Course Title: Introduction to Business
Course Code: BUS 503
Sec: --
Submitted To:
---------------------
Lecturer, MBA Program,
BRAC University
Submitted By:
S. N. S.
Date of Submission: 14/08/2013
Case 2.1: Strategy for Competing with Microsoft: Fight or Flight?
Question-1:
Was it ethical for Microsoft to force users of its Windows operating system to use its internet browsers as well by bundling the programs together and preventing PC manufacturers from making other software available to computer buyers? Was Microsoft’s behavior toward its rivals ethical? Why or why not?
Answer:
By bundling its internet browser and other programs together Microsoft was forcing its buyers to use their browser Internet Explorer and other programs like Windows Media Player. It was also preventing other PC manufacturers from making similar software which the users could have used as a better alternative to the Microsoft software. As the programs were bundled together, the users were forced to pay for the software they didn’t want to use and they were not allowed to choose other software though they were better alternative than the Microsoft programs, some of these programs were open source and free of cost.As we know that consumers have four types of right and under “The Right to Choose” users should have the right to choose any program they want, not the internet browser of Windows operating system. So it was unethical for Microsoft to force users of its Windows operating system to use its internet browsers as well by bundling the programs together and preventing PC manufacturers from making other software available to computer buyers.
Again, Microsoft’s behavior toward its rivals was unethical. Microsoft tried to create and maintain a monopoly with its Windows operating system and other programs associated with it, which was not fair to its market competitors. They were indirectly forcing computer buyers to use only Microsoft products which
Course Title: Introduction to Business
Course Code: BUS 503
Sec: --
Submitted To:
---------------------
Lecturer, MBA Program,
BRAC University
Submitted By:
S. N. S.
Date of Submission: 14/08/2013
Case 2.1: Strategy for Competing with Microsoft: Fight or Flight?
Question-1:
Was it ethical for Microsoft to force users of its Windows operating system to use its internet browsers as well by bundling the programs together and preventing PC manufacturers from making other software available to computer buyers? Was Microsoft’s behavior toward its rivals ethical? Why or why not?
Answer:
By bundling its internet browser and other programs together Microsoft was forcing its buyers to use their browser Internet Explorer and other programs like Windows Media Player. It was also preventing other PC manufacturers from making similar software which the users could have used as a better alternative to the Microsoft software. As the programs were bundled together, the users were forced to pay for the software they didn’t want to use and they were not allowed to choose other software though they were better alternative than the Microsoft programs, some of these programs were open source and free of cost.As we know that consumers have four types of right and under “The Right to Choose” users should have the right to choose any program they want, not the internet browser of Windows operating system. So it was unethical for Microsoft to force users of its Windows operating system to use its internet browsers as well by bundling the programs together and preventing PC manufacturers from making other software available to computer buyers.
Again, Microsoft’s behavior toward its rivals was unethical. Microsoft tried to create and maintain a monopoly with its Windows operating system and other programs associated with it, which was not fair to its market competitors. They were indirectly forcing computer buyers to use only Microsoft products which