Microsoft Dispatches Anthropologists to Study Small Businesses

Microsoft has too much money. How do I know? Because they have hired anthropologists to study small businesses and have given away hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment and software so that the anthropologist can walk in at any time and watch what you are doing with their products. Sounds a little inefficient to me and therefore leads me to believe (tada) that Microsoft has too much money. They are definitely not lean and mean. That being said it is great to see that big companies are finally treating small businesses with respect. It was not long ago that small businesses had to struggle to get the attention that they needed from big biz. Now we are the high-growth industry, so here come the big boys. Let them come I say! Having companies compete for my business (I really don't care is they are big or small) only helps my business by allowing competitive pressures to lower my costs. It's a good life. Doug Kersten Microsoft Dispatches Anthropologists to Study Small Businesses "REDMOND, WASH.- Stan is a hands-on sort of guy. The entrepreneur's day starts at 7:30 a.m., when he gets into work and checks his e-mail. At 8:30, Stan starts preparing for the daily 9 o'clock sales meeting. The rest of the day is a blur of calls and meetings: Stan's banker, his accountant, his suppliers. The chubby, graying 41-year-old usually leaves work at 5:30 with a briefcase full of reports to read that night. Sometimes Stan goes straight home to his wife and two children. But often he goes out to dinner with a client and doesn't get home until late."