Q&A: Microsoft exec talks up Project Green

Computerworld - SAN DIEGO -- Doug Burgum, senior vice president of the Microsoft Business Solutions Business Group, and other executives at this week's Convergence 2005 user show unveiled a road map for development across the group's four product lines in an initiative known as "Project Green." The initiative includes extending the support time for the current applications and phasing in changes in two major waves using technologies such as Web services and role-based interfaces.
Sometime after 2008, Microsoft Corp. plans to offer a software suite that incorporates the best of each product line and allows companies to easily map out their own business processes. The following interview with Burgum is based on comments made to Computerworld and statements at public forums.
How is Microsoft doing in terms of business applications revenue? We have an aspiration to have significant market share. Do we have a special goal out there? No. We don't have a profitability issue or problem. We would have one if we were trying to be profitable and weren't. If you are planning to invest money, as Microsoft has a plan to, in what you think is a big opportunity down the road, it's not a problem but an opportunity.
Anyone who characterizes profitability as something to be fixed doesn't understand Microsoft and the charter given to me. Each year, the amount of planned loss is less. In terms of revenue growth, obviously, you love to be growing faster than we are, but we're pleased with the revenue growth.
What are Microsoft's plans for hosted applications? We have not announced plans for doing anything directly. Partners continue to host solutions, and we'll vigorously support those partners. Today, we still view that [segment] as a minority of the market.
Has there been any effect from PeopleSoft Inc.'s takeover by Oracle Corp. on Microsoft and the market? I think we are trying to be responsive. We know there were a number of PeopleSoft customers that were running [applications] on a Microsoft infrastructure. With some of the saber rattling during the extended ... takeover and trial, many customers became nervous.
If they're concerned about being forced over to Oracle, and we're appropriate [as an alternative], we'll find a home for you. We want to be a harbor for them if we've got a fit.
We're not going after the largest companies. Those guys [Oracle and SAP] can duke it out there. We're in a unique position. We're open for business for larger organizations and large enterprises. We're not trying to knock off a $50