Retrospective Sensemaking

“Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Steve Ballmer tried to put a good face on the software maker's failed attempt to buy Yahoo Inc. and pressed the case for Microsoft's continued investment in online services -- particularly Internet search…

“Mr. Ballmer's comments came at Microsoft's annual meeting with analysts at its headquarters in Redmond, Wash. He and other executives devoted much of the meeting to addressing investor concerns about Microsoft's Internet business. Central to his strategy, Mr. Ballmer said, will be boosting spending on online-related technologies and marketing, and on buying other companies.

“‘We're going to have to ante up in a significant way to even be in this game,’ Mr. Ballmer said.

“Microsoft spent most of this year trying to strike a deal with Yahoo -- first trying to buy the whole company and then trying to buy its Internet-search business -- but that quest ended when Yahoo rejected Microsoft's offers...

“Mr. Ballmer Thursday said that Microsoft didn't want to buy Yahoo ‘at the wrong price’ and noted that the inability to reach an agreement in the spring made it impossible to start a regulatory review of any deal before a new U.S. president took office. He also said that buying Yahoo would have created ‘huge integration overhead’ to merge the two companies.

“Without Yahoo, he said, Microsoft will have more flexibility to try to attack Google Inc. with new technologies and acquisitions in Internet search. ‘I'm not going to say it's not a big bet. It is. I'm not going to say it's not risky. It is,’ he said.”

(“Microsoft Makes Case for Online Push --- Ballmer Plans to Bulk Up Technology, Marketing And Pursue Acquisitions.” Robert A. Guth and Jessica E. Vascellaro. Wall Street Journal: July 25, 2008. pg. B.7)

"NOW I SEE WHY we didn't buy Yahoo; it would have been too costly and burdensome!"

Whether in hindsight or in foresight, watch out for the hidden challenges of buying into salvation through acquisition.

You bet your life! Learning is for those who value clearer vision.