When someone thinks of Microsoft, they usually think of its popular operating system Windows and its suite of work productivity software, which includes MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Since its introduction in the 1980s, Microsoft has come to dominate the PC operating system market with a market share of more than 75% and a ~50% market share of office productivity software. The Microsoft of today, in terms of its products and services, has come a long way since the days when Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded the company in their small garage in Alburquerque, New Mexico. Microsoft’s activities have grown beyond its focus on software development to encompass videogame consoles, smartphones and tablets, professional networking services, and mixed reality headsets.

The common denominator that has contributed to these transformations is the ever-expanding interactions Microsoft has had with external parties. These have taken the forms of acquisitions, partnerships, and investments.