Q: Did Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer show strength or weakness by walking away from the takeover bid for Yahoo at the 11th-hour?
| posted by Fast Company staff
i believe steve ballmer does not show weakness by walking away.Microscoft can't be all things to all people.that is a trap.TADE ESAN.President Rapid Result coaching company.that waork with entrepreneur on how to achieve freedom while there business run profitably without them physically involved
This was probably part of the plan. If things did not look like they were going Micosoft's way, it gave them the option to pursue a hostile takaover at a lower potential cost--it put the fate of Yahoo in the hands of its chairman. If the stock did not fare well on the market, Microsoft could moer easily move in and FINALLY get a strong foothold on the online search arena. The necessity of obtaining YAHOO is a sign that the software giant got into that area too late.
Strength. He didn't allow himself to be driven and motivated by ego in making a sound and tough business decision. He wasn't willing to pay more than MSFT had valued the company previously. Kudos to Mr. Ballmer.
I think it showed strength. Ballmer did a ballsy thing shooting for a Yahoo buyout, but admitting that it was the wrong thing to do even after fighting so strenuously for it shows he isn't afraid to admit when he is wrong and to the right thing for the company.
Neither. This is a poorly worded/phrased question; it assumes either strength or weakness are the only concerns for businesspersons. How about patience as a strategy? or even weakness? The trojan horse was taken as a sign of a weak, fleeing enemy. It was neither. It was a patience strategy with more than a little faith in the most reliable trait of humans - curiosity.
He showed strength. The easy way out was to overpay and create a fiasco like Time Warner/AOL. Instead, he did the right thing for his shareholders no matter how much flack he will get.
By this weekend, it was obvious Yahoo wasn't going down, at least not with the less than appealing and almost insulting offers Microsoft was presenting. Microsoft has typically had a bad reputation as a bully, especially in comparison to Apple or Google, who might be bullies themselves but some how their PR departments always pull off appearing like the good guys.
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May 7, 2008 at 1:58pm
tade smilei believe steve ballmer does not show weakness by walking away.Microscoft can't be all things to all people.that is a trap.TADE ESAN.President Rapid Result coaching company.that waork with entrepreneur on how to achieve freedom while there business run profitably without them physically involved
May 6, 2008 at 4:54pm
Les ChristiansenThis was probably part of the plan. If things did not look like they were going Micosoft's way, it gave them the option to pursue a hostile takaover at a lower potential cost--it put the fate of Yahoo in the hands of its chairman. If the stock did not fare well on the market, Microsoft could moer easily move in and FINALLY get a strong foothold on the online search arena. The necessity of obtaining YAHOO is a sign that the software giant got into that area too late.
May 6, 2008 at 3:02pm
Richard WintonStrength. He didn't allow himself to be driven and motivated by ego in making a sound and tough business decision. He wasn't willing to pay more than MSFT had valued the company previously. Kudos to Mr. Ballmer.
May 6, 2008 at 2:30pm
Darren ShieldI think it showed strength. Ballmer did a ballsy thing shooting for a Yahoo buyout, but admitting that it was the wrong thing to do even after fighting so strenuously for it shows he isn't afraid to admit when he is wrong and to the right thing for the company.
May 6, 2008 at 1:31pm
Gloria SinWhat about Yahoo's Jerry Yang? Is he the weakling he seems or strategic playmaker posing as the underdog?
May 6, 2008 at 12:03pm
Ralph BarnetteNeither. This is a poorly worded/phrased question; it assumes either strength or weakness are the only concerns for businesspersons. How about patience as a strategy? or even weakness? The trojan horse was taken as a sign of a weak, fleeing enemy. It was neither. It was a patience strategy with more than a little faith in the most reliable trait of humans - curiosity.
May 6, 2008 at 12:01pm
Brian SteketeeStrength. I don't think this is the last we'll see of Microsoft's play on Yahoo. Steve just reminded them who's in control of the situation.
May 6, 2008 at 10:55am
Bert KrieghHe showed strength. The easy way out was to overpay and create a fiasco like Time Warner/AOL. Instead, he did the right thing for his shareholders no matter how much flack he will get.
May 6, 2008 at 10:46am
Rachel KingBy this weekend, it was obvious Yahoo wasn't going down, at least not with the less than appealing and almost insulting offers Microsoft was presenting. Microsoft has typically had a bad reputation as a bully, especially in comparison to Apple or Google, who might be bullies themselves but some how their PR departments always pull off appearing like the good guys.
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