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Should Ballmer Leave Microsoft? 10 Things to Consider

I love that we live in an age of instantaneous information. I hate it too.

As an industry commentator and former editor-in-chief, I have always believed that there is a huge difference between something that might be “news” versus something that is actually “newsworthy.”  

The kerfuffle on the Internet today, aka the “buzz” of the day, is commentary from InfoWorld. It involves rumors based on rumors and speculation from anonymous sources that long-time Microsoft CEO Steven Ballmer will step aside after the introduction of Windows 8. Obviously, this is big news if true. It has led to speculation bordering on the intensity of the “who is going to take over Al Qaeda” speculation of the past weeks. Author Woody Leonhard did a nice job placing in context thoughts of grumpy investors , employees and others. However, one wonders if this really newsworthy? Is it worth alerting TMCnet.com readers who may have missed it?

The answer to the first question is that gossip without facts in the old days was not news. But that was before the Internet, i.e., RSS feeds, columns, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Now being out there, even with unconfirmed speculation (not really rumor) about if and when Ballmer might decide to step down is as important as to whether his immediate departure is plausible.

That said, just as we see in politics when ill-advised behavior immediately disclosed tends to hurt people less than their attempts to cover it up, so too here. It has become newsworthy because it has buzz. So here are my two cents.

Steve Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 as its 30th employee. He was the first business manager hired by , became CEO in 2000, and Bill and Steve together own more than 11% of Microsoft’s stock. Put simply, he is not going anywhere any sooner than he desires, and he seems to like his job.

In some particular order, here is my Top 10 List of context for thinking about the Ballmer years.

10.          I own Microsoft stock. Why? Because it pays a reasonable dividend. In my mind that makes it like holding stock in a regulated utility. Right now lack of volatility is a good thing.

9.            The “smart money” wanted them to buy Yahoo. Remember!  Wall Street is great at spending other people’s money. Turns out Steve was correct, but does not get credit.

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