This is the first time that I'm using my blog to write about the D&PE Division I'm part of in Microsoft Israel. Our Mission as a division is to work with our customers to help them adopt Microsoft's platform and our goal is to secure the future adoption of Microsoft's platform. To do that, we work with the ones developing the future projects and those are the developers, architects, R&D managers and even the executive levels when it comes to business development.
Recently, we decided to start and arrange the D&PE division around four main pillars:
1) Software Architecture & Platform Strategy - This is the group that I am now managing. My group consists of software architecture consultants that lead the software development domain across the different verticals. We work with customers in the Enterprises in Israel, large Hi-Tech ISVs, Government Offices, Academy and more.
We do this by consulting while leading processes of evaluating Microsoft solutions, architectures and technologies. We use our skills as architects and former software development managers and our knowledge of Microsoft's roadmap and technologies to assist our customers and partners in making the right choices before using Microsoft's products.
To tell you the truth, I really think we have one of the most interesting jobs in the Hi-Tech industry. In the same job, with some customers one can be a technologist, an architect or a consultant, while with other customers he can be the strategist or the business developer. When it comes to the broader community the same person can be the presenter in conferences or someone who gets interviewed in specific domains of expertise. And to someone who likes diversity, real impact and the broader picture, this is one of the few jobs in our industry I'd recommend.
Actually :-), I have an open cool position for which I'm looking for a consultant that will lead the vertical of the Academy and help faculty staff and students make the best use of our development technologies in the courses, curriculums, projects etc. If you are interested and the above descriptions match you and made you passionate and excited, you are invited to read more in the job description on this link.
2) ISV Business Development Management (BDM)- Some say that Israel is considered to be the second largest Silicon Valley with regards to the amount of startups and ISVs. Microsoft also has some very interesting business related programs for ISVs that export and decide to adopt our platform. The ISV BDM group consists of a senior business development manager (BDM) and a software development consultant that focuses on technology and architecture with small and medium ISVs.
3) Community - This 3rd pillar focuses on the breadth R&D audience: one-to-many events, user groups, blogs, forums, written articles and newsletters and more. Some of the recent activities arranged are the development related tracks in Tech-Ed Israel, the successful Developers Academy event, the open code contest, the popular MS Israel Blogs site and the latest MSDN Pulse newsletter in Hebrew for developers.
4) Development Tools - Increasing Usage of Microsoft Development Tools with Visual Studio and Visual Studio Team System. The focus in here is with product marketing, partner channels for product selling on one hand and for product deployment and usage on the other hand and making sure the share and revenue from these products is positive.
Well, that's us, the D&PE, in a nutshell.
If we can be of assistance to you or your organization, don't hesitate to send me an email and if you have suggestions or ideas with regards to our strategy or activities, please comment or send me another email.