O'Reilly Network Weblogs: Microsoft's Standards of Business Conduct

Published on The O'Reilly Network (http://www.oreillynet.com/)
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/wlg/9289

Microsoft's Standards of Business Conduct

by Mitch Tulloch
Mar. 8, 2006
URL: http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/5/f/65f1aced-0ca6-4855-82ac-b10475d556d8/business_conduct.doc

This Word doc is a public version of the internal business standards document that outlines for Microsoft employees how they should conduct themselves in business. I find it interesting for two reasons. First, the opening letter by Steve Ballmer crystalizes exactly what makes Microsoft not just a highly successful company but a great company to work for. And second, the list of Microsoft's values beneath Steve's letter are terrific values for a company to hold, and in my own personal experience (both as a custom and as someone who has done contract work with Microsoft) and in the experience of many of my business colleagues, Microsoft does strive to adhere to these values and their business practices reflect this. IMO they truly are "Great People with Great Values" despite what their competitors and detractors may say about them.

Mitch Tulloch is the author of Windows 2000 Administration in a Nutshell, Windows Server 2003 in a Nutshell, and Windows Server Hacks.