Case of United States vs. Microsoft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Case of United States vs. Microsoft - Essay Example The second defense presented by Microsoft was that it was just competing hard against Netscape, and that such competition was welfare-enhancing, and that it did not commit any anti-competitive acts. The third defense given by Microsoft was that it did not have monopoly power in the operating systems market. The fourth defense presented by Microsoft was that competition in the software sector was intense and that its leadership position could be replaced at any time by a new competitor or entrant. Microsoft further argued in its fifth defense, that it is a leader in software innovation and as such intensified and not restrained the innovation process. Lastly, Microsoft reasoned that consumers have benefited from its low pricing of the operating system, the zero pricing of its Internet browser and from its enhancement and acceleration of the innovation process, rather than been harmed by them. Microsoft also argued that consumers benefit from the de facto standardization that its large market share brought to the operating systems market (Economides, 2011). Moreover, Microsoft contended that an anti-trust action against them will dampen incentives for competition and slowdown software innovation. On April 3, 2000, in a two-part decision, Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson ruled in Washington, D.C. that Microsoft's dominance of the personal computer operating systems market constituted a monopoly, and that it used its power against competitors in ways that stifled innovation and harmed consumers. Judge Jackson ordered the breakup of Microsoft into two separate units, one to produce the operating system, and one to produce other software components. This ruling however was overturned by the Court of Appeals on June 28, 2001, acting on the appeal of Microsoft. I think that the DOJ, perceived Microsoft as a bully who would eat their competitors or anybody for that matter, who will be a threat to their market leadership. Microsoft was viewed as a company who would halt inn ovations if it threatened its Windows monopoly. I view the DOJ’s accusations as trying to control the market process and at the same time belittling the ability of the market to correct itself. In my view, the antitrust case against Microsoft is an attempt by the government to control the industry which might eventually have an adverse effect on future technological advancements in the field. I do not think that it is fair for the DOJ to dictate or interfere what should go to the Windows operating system. Microsoft has every right to offer the web browser for free if it does so to gain dominance in the market and government cannot take that away from them. It is clearly a marketing move on their part. From the defense presented by Microsoft, I can see that the point they are driving at is that they are not a monopoly but rather a market leader. Their claim that their

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs Theory - Essay Example An organization has to satisfy these needs if it wants to achieve efficiency from its customers (Bateman and Snell, 2013). It is important to denote that the satisfaction of these needs must be done in a hierarchical order. Starting with the most important need, that is need for survival; up to the least important need that is the need of self-actualization. Another theory is the ERG theory by Aldefer. According to this theory, an individual has three important needs that an organization must satisfy in order to motivate them. These needs are the desire to exist, relate and grow. According to this theory, these needs change as the position of an employee progresses (Tracy, 2013). Existence encompasses the desire to satisfy basic human needs such as food, shelter and clothing. Relatedness is the desire of an employee to form associations with employers, co-workers, and family members (Dessler, 2013). Growth is the desire of an employee to achieve his or her ambitions. McClelland needs theory is another theory of motivation. According to this theory, the needs of an individual are acquired over time, and it is their experiences that shape these needs. McClelland identifies three needs, which are achievement, affiliation and power. This theory is often referred to as the three needs theory. Under achievement, an individual takes a calculated risk to accomplish their goals. They tend to avoid high risks situations, because success there comes as a chance. They also tend to avoid low risk situations because there is no guarantee of success (Fa?bregas and Scalise, 2012). With affiliation, comes the desire of an individual to create relationships. On this basis, an individual favors collaborations, as opposed to competition. The individual also desires power. Under this need, two types of power exists, institutional and personal (Walters, 2010). Personal power involves the need to control friends, and family members. While institutional is the need to control organiza tions. The motivator-hygiene model theory is also another example of a motivational theory. According to this theory, an organization needs to understand the factors that cause an employee to be motivated, and ones that cause the same employee to be de-motivated. This theory denotes that factors that motivate an employee can change over a period of time, and settings of work (Ryan, 2012). However, the need of respect cannot change. It is the most motivating factor at any given point of an individual’s life. This theory further denotes that in an organization, there is an aspect of satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Managers must put all this in consideration while formulating policies. The final theory is the equity theory of motivation. This theory explains that the motivation of employees come as a result of perceptions in relation to the fairness in which an organization treats its various employees (Schunk, 2012). This theory denotes that individuals value fairness, and th is makes them to have motivation. Of these theories, the most important theory of motivation is the Herzberg’s Motivator-Hygiene Model. This is because the theory is practical and identifies two factors that an organizations needs to consider while developing human resource policies.