If you were the CEO of Microsoft, how would you increase usage for Internet Explorer?

Introduction

As the CEO of Microsoft, increasing usage for Internet Explorer presents a significant strategic challenge and opportunity. Our primary objective is to revitalize Internet Explorer's market position, drive user adoption, and ultimately increase Microsoft's overall market share in the browser space. To address this challenge, I'll outline a comprehensive strategy that encompasses market analysis, product vision, strategic initiatives, execution planning, and risk management.

Here's the agenda for my strategic approach:

1. Clarify strategic goals
2. Conduct market and competitive analysis
3. Define product vision and roadmap
4. Prioritize strategic initiatives
5. Develop execution plan and resource allocation
6. Establish metrics and KPIs
7. Implement risk management and contingency planning

Step 1

Clarify the Strategic Goals (3-4 minutes)

• Based on the current browser market dynamics, I'm sensing that Internet Explorer might be in a mature or declining phase of its product lifecycle. Could you help me understand where we are in terms of market share and user adoption trends compared to our competitors?

Why it matters: Determines if we need to focus on user retention, market share recovery, or a complete product reinvention. Expected answer: Declining market share with strong competition from Chrome and Firefox. Impact on approach: Would focus on rapid innovation and differentiation strategies to regain market relevance.

• Considering Microsoft's broader ecosystem strategy, how critical is Internet Explorer's success to our overall company objectives? Are we looking at it as a standalone product or as an integral part of a larger platform play?

Why it matters: Influences whether we invest heavily in IE or pivot towards a new browser strategy. Expected answer: IE is important but not critical; we're open to new browser strategies that align with our cloud and productivity focus. Impact on approach: Would explore options for either revamping IE or developing a new browser solution that integrates better with our ecosystem.

• In terms of target audience, are we primarily focused on retaining our existing enterprise user base, or are we aiming to expand into the consumer market as well?

Why it matters: Shapes our feature prioritization and marketing strategies. Expected answer: Both are important, but enterprise retention is a higher priority due to its impact on other Microsoft products. Impact on approach: Would emphasize enterprise-friendly features and integration with Microsoft 365 while also addressing consumer needs.

Based on these assumptions, our strategic approach will focus on:

1. Rapid innovation to regain market relevance
2. Tight integration with Microsoft's broader ecosystem
3. Prioritizing enterprise needs while also addressing consumer market demands