Microsoft adding RSS support to Microsoft CRM

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Everybody knew it was inevitable that Microsoft would attempt to break into the very profitable CRM market. In 2003 they did just that with Microsoft CRM 1.0. As with all 1.0 Microsoft products it had its problems and that slowed its adoption. The biggest problem that Microsoft had to overcome was that they weren't doing anything new and revolutionary with the product. One of my previous employers had a product in 1999 that did everything that Microsoft CRM did and then some. Since that day Microsoft CRM has come a long way, but the CRM market is one of the tougher ones to stay on top of.

Internet Explorer 7 and Windows Vista are the first two Microsoft products with RSS support built in, but Microsoft isn't stopping there. Microsoft has announced that they will be integrating RSS support into Microsoft CRM. The first thing I thought of when I heard this was "Hey, I can finally get updated price quotes from vendors without having to do a manual update." Apparently Microsoft was thinking along the same lines. Chris Capossela, corporate vice president for the information worker group told PDC attendees that customers or partners of companies who use Dynamics CRM could utilize RSS to receive updates about information, such as price quotes.

We believe RSS will be transformed into a platform that embraces business applications. We see RSS as a great way to publish information to partners, customers and employees.

The decision to include RSS support appears to be a direct response to Spanning Partners new service that provides RSS to Salesforce.com. Last week Steve Ballmer promised Microsoft "would give Salesforce.com a run for its money."

Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International

In the past two years, the number of female Country Managers at Microsoft has nearly doubled with this increased focus on gender diversity in leadership. For our fan page, Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International, has committed to a series of interviews with some of the female Country Managers from around the globe, and this interview with VERONIKA ABOUT HER ROLE AS CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA CLUSTER COUNTRY MANAGER is the eighth in that series. Microsoft operates in more than 140 countries around the world, and in each country, we have a Country Manager who is effectively, the CEO of Microsoft in that market. All of these Country Managers report to Jean-Philippe Courtois who is a big advocate for female diversity.

Q: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST INTERESTING CHALLENGE AND/OR LEARNING AS A CM AT MICROSOFT? In my role, I look after 15 emerging countries in Central & Eastern Europe and Central Asia which are all very different both culturally and with regard to business conventions. There are many different religions, traditions and historical contexts. When I started, I felt very challenged to try and understand all these business cultures not to make cultural mistakes. What I learned is that you can’t learn everything. I had to understand the basics, certainly, but then I learned to focus on being authentic and open to learning new things in talking to government officials or customers. They notice and appreciate when you’re trying to be respectful by asking them to advise, rather than trying to be perfect. I learned not to be afraid to not know it all.

Q: WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE ON LEADERSHIP THAT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED? As a leader, I recognize that the people I work with are most important for me. One of the best pieces of advice I got early in my career as a manager helped me a lot. My VP told me to always try to hire the best people and to not be afraid to hire people better than me. It’s from those people that you can learn, and in turn, they will help you succeed.

Q: WHAT STRATEGIES DO YOU USE TO AIM FOR A HEALTHY WORK/LIFE BALANCE? With 15 countries to manage, I have a very busy travel schedule so it’s hard! For me, planning is key. I build regular activities into my calendar like tennis games, get-togethers with friends, vacations, and of course health/beauty-related treatments. Tracking the time in my calendar helps me to ensure I have right balance between time for myself, my family, and the business. But… I believe it is very individual, and this works for me.

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Q: WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER WOMEN WHO ARE CONSIDERING A CAREER IN TECHNOLOGY? Technology today is very diverse. It is lot of fun, and it is also about consumers and changing people’s lives, so I believe it is the right place for women to be. My advice would be don’t be afraid of technology and don’t be afraid to take risks! It’s true that information technology is still a male-dominated field, yes, but women bring something unique to this environment. One example is regarding decision making: women tend to be more thoughtful about decisions and that can make a difference in a team.

Q: WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO WORK AT MICROSOFT? I joined Microsoft 16 years ago as a sales person because for me it was a huge opportunity to learn about advanced business and technology. I am from a post-communist country, so working for an American and international company was a dream come true. Symbolically, for me it represented breaking away from what we “weren’t allowed to learn.” It was freedom.

Q: HOW DOES YOUR ROLE AT MICROSOFT ENABLE YOU TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE WORLD? The countries I cover are emerging markets which really want to succeed. In my role, I am able to help governments to make a difference for their people through technology. One of many examples I am proud of is that we are in the final stages of implementing a government gateway in the Republic of Georgia. This work, which began four years ago with the Government and USAID in Georgia, includes a citizen-facing portal to provide information and valuable citizen services with the click of a mouse. I am amazed to see the results of this type of work across the region, through strategic partnerships with governments, which are producing solutions for citizens that are better than what’s available in some developed countries today.

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Finding a Job in a Down Economy: It's Not What You Know, It's Who

Getting a decent job in any economic climate can be an exhausting, ego-crushing task. Not only are you competing with hundreds of talented applicants for one position, but you must also meet strict company requirements. You may still have to jump through some hoops to get a job, but the process has become a bit easier thanks to the Internet.

Today we are in the midst of a very serious economic recession. Hundreds of thousands of talented people have been laid off of their jobs and major corporations have gone under. So why in your right mind would you be out looking for another job right now? Why not just collect unemployment for awhile and ride out the storm? Getting a job may not be as hard as you think. Your favorite social networking site could be the best possible job resource you could ever gain access to.

MySpace, an international site that offers e-mail, a forum, communities, videos and Weblog space to help people stay connected with their friends and family members, now has a job site that allows people to search for employment opportunities based on the industry of their choice. You do not have to be a MySpace member to take advantage of this service. Another added bonus is the "career videos" section at the bottom of the jobs site, which help reduce some of the stress associated with the job hunt.

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It is particularly true during tough times, whether you are looking for your next client or business deal or simply trying to find a new job, that it's not what you know, but who you know. Leveraging the power of social networking helps you avoid the anonymity that comes along with submitting your resume for one job opening through an online site.

In addition, social networking allows you to create a relationship with the people who are looking to fill a job position or with friends and colleagues who can otherwise give you an "in."

LinkedIn is another popular social networking site that provides an interconnected network of experienced professionals located all over the world, representing 170 industries and 200 countries. LinkedIn enables you to find, be introduced to, and work with skilled professionals to accomplish your goals.

In order to create a network of trusted contacts, you must be willing to do some research and work. This involves reaching out to former coworkers, former classmates, and colleagues in your industry, fellow alumni and fellow association members.

With online social networks, you gain an easy way to develop and solidify these contacts which will only help your job search. If you need to change industries because of the economy, developing trusted contacts in other industries will significantly ease the transition into a new career.

Online social networks provide an easy way to develop and solidify these contacts which can only help your job search. You just may be able to land your dream job faster by setting yourself apart from the crowd through the opportunities provided through online social networking.