Enterprise applications Toolkit

Story: Trying to make friends the Microsoft way

Posted by: Arthur B. (Thursday 14 July 2005, 8:57 PM)

Betting on a single horse won't last you a life time. Something stockholders and customers should keep in mind when "their company" decides to go 100% head first into today's version of Microsoft's Partner Program.

Quote: "The one commonality, though — and this is the crux of the matter — is that the partners who specialise are the ones who will thrive."
Yeah, and overspecialise too much (how could you not once locked into that direction?) and you'll be dependant (which will not exactly help during negotiations) like never before. And being too dependant on something has a way on how you see the truth.

Also, Darwin figured out long ago what happens to overspecialized creatures once their environment (new strategic business tactics from Redmond HQ for example) changes too fast or too much.

In short, keep your options open. Always, with whoever you do business. Short term expectations of tremendous revenue and fortune are usually exactly that. Short term, short lived. Also be specially carefull not to get into a program that will slowly but surely claim all your resources and make you completely dependant that way.