Microsoft Graduation: Creating Tools for a New Generation of Professionals

Team 3: Isabella Lu, Kate McCallum, Daniel Svirsky, Naomi Walch

INTRODUCTION|Meet the Team!

Leveraging innovation to create opportunities to uphold EDI

Upholding corporate values to build a better future

Empowering every individual to achieve more

Keeping Microsoft’s values at the forefront of our solution will help the company reach new heights!

Isabella Lu

Introduction

Daniel Svirsky

Kate McCallum

Naomi Walch

Conclusion

Feasibility

Solution

Introduction

Analysis

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY|Our three pronged proposal to increase customer retention

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Integrate coding projects into VS Code

in order to create a complete software for individuals to learn how to code

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Challenge

Recommendations

Outcome

Increase customer retention through a package that helps young professionals thrive in the beginning of their careers

How can Microsoft increase the retention rate of student consumers after graduation for the Microsoft suite of products?

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Allow users to gain LinkedIn Certifications

after the completion of coding courses to help them further their career

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Further integrate Resume Assistance

on Microsoft Word to help individuals improve their hireability

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Introduction

Conclusion

Feasibility

Solution

Introduction

Analysis

PROBLEM| Microsoft needs to increase the retention rate of young professionals after graduation

Technical skills are now very valuable to employers, specifically coding and computer programming

Young graduates typically have unstable employment status as well as unstable income

Many universities subsidize access to Microsoft Office 365 and Azure cloud services for university students

Recent graduates who did not study coding in post-secondary education are struggling to find employment

These individuals are discouraged from renewing their Microsoft software licenses

These subscriptions are no longer available to new graduates which causes them to find alternatives

Introduction

Conclusion

Feasibility

Solution

Introduction

Analysis

MACRO TRENDS|Increased demand for coding literacy in the modern workplace

More Self-Education

Half of the jobs in the top income quartile (>$57,000) require coding skills

54.5% of employees feel they have a lack of technical skills

Higher Paying Jobs

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Lack of Code Proficiency

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Over 69% of coders are partially or totally self taught

Analysis

Conclusion

Feasibility

Solution

Introduction

Analysis

MEET AMIRA|Understanding the needs and wants of our market is crucial

AMIRA

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• 22 year old living in downtown Toronto

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• Recent HBA Graduate and studied Social Science before

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• Currently seeking employment in product management

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• Has identified a disparity between her current technical skills and the those expected of her desired role

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of recent university graduates remain at their first job for one year or less

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of young professionals found their current job position to be more tech-heavy than anticipated

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CONCLUSION:

Microsoft must offer a discounted package for young professionals that provides an ongoing skill development and certification experience.

71%

43.4%

Analysis

Conclusion

Feasibility

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Analysis

CORPORATE CAPABILITIES|Here is what Microsoft already does

Easier Access to Assistance via Web

Higher Customer Retention

Over 25 million monthly users

Loyalty Loop

Initial Consideration

Focus on Youth

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Focus on Elder

Post-Interaction Experience

Ranked #1 development tools 3 years after launch

Boasts many introductory videos

Notched 18M hours of use, second place only had 3M

Analysis

Conclusion

Feasibility

Solution

Introduction

Analysis

By implementing new technological processes BoC can reduce its

operational efficiencies

OPPORTUNITY IDENTIFICATION|Leverage these trends to improve new grad retention

Insufficient coding literacy in graduates hurts hiring prospects and generates underemployment

Lack of clarity in job requirements has lead to confusion regarding technical skill sets

Scarcity of career guidance hinders individuals in developing well-polished resumes

Leverage Microsoft’s name to create reliable certifications

Emerging professionals are looking for assistance in resume building

Capitalize on young professional’s need for technical skills

Microsoft can utilize these opportunities to increase the number of consumers who are recent graduates.

Analysis

Conclusion

Feasibility

Solution

Introduction

Analysis

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INTRODUCING MICROSOFT GRADUATION!

Solution

Conclusion

Feasibility

Solution

Introduction

Analysis

SOLUTION| Three tiered approach to keep recent graduates as customers of Microsoft

Interactive Projects

LinkedIn Certificates

Resume Assistance

Solution

Conclusion

Feasibility

Solution

Introduction

Analysis

DECISION|What else did we consider and why did we settle on this solution

None of these other solutions could target recent graduates as much as the one we chose

Solution

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NOW AMIRA|Can showcase her newfound learning and receive certification

NEW AND IMPROVED AMIRA...

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• Uses existing VS/LinkedIn learning videos to learn concepts about Python

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• Accesses Microsoft Graduation’s projects that are set up for her in VS

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• Completes these projects as if she is in a real Python course

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• Receives a Python certification on her LinkedIn profile
• Uses Resume Assistant to help her apply to the right jobs

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This membership allows Amira to access Microsoft Office and resume assistance on top of the coding projects

This membership allows Amira to access LinkedIn learning videos and the corresponding projects in VS Code

$15/month

$10/month

Solution

Conclusion

Feasibility

Solution

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Analysis

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS|This is how we compare to other players in the industry

Khan Academy

Treehouse Courses

Treehouse Techdegree

Pricing

Coding Projects

Certifications

Basic Codes

Advanced Coding

Feasibility

Microsoft Graduation

Conclusion

Feasibility

Solution

Introduction

Analysis

CONSUMER PERCEPTION MAP|Here is how consumers would see us

Breadth of Services

Monthly Cost

Khan Academy

Treehouse

Courses

Treehouse

Techdegree

Graduation

Basic

Graduation

Premium

Feasibility

Conclusion

Feasibility

Solution

Introduction

Analysis

MARKETING|How we plan to promote our package

Feasibility

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Update ‘Alumni-Discount’ portion of Microsoft’s website to capture existing consumer’s

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Purchase Pay Per View ads on Google and Facebook in order to get broader exposure

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Send out an email to all university based accounts for individuals who are graduating

Microsoft Graduation aims to develop a strong web presence in order to capture market share from recent graduates who spend a lot of time surfing the internet

Conclusion

Feasibility

Solution

Introduction

Analysis

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS|Analyzing the financial feasibility of our solution

Feasibility

Only need 557 clients for a year to breakeven

$83,606.88 to build and market Microsoft Graduation

Therefore need 2% conversion rate from CPC ads

Conclusion

Feasibility

Solution

Introduction

Analysis

RISKS & MITIGATIONS | Developing a strong contingency plan

Feasibility

Mitigated by the one-year time limit of the promotion and will receive profits from retained clients

LinkedIn’s 50% market growth is from innovation and Microsoft Grad will be promotion for LinkedIn as well

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Product cannibalization due to clients already planning to use Microsoft products using the discount package

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Loss of independence for LinkedIn may go against the core acquisition agreement between them and Microsoft

Conclusion

Feasibility

Solution

Introduction

Analysis

CONCLUSION|Here is how Microsoft can support the new generation and increase retention

Hands-On Coding Development

Official LinkedIn Certifications

Technologically Advanced Resume Assistance

Leverage the largest professional networking platform

Compensate for the weaknesses of career guidance

Allow recent graduates to learn skills they may not have

Adapting to the ever-changing needs of young professionals

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Thank you for listening!

Team 6: Isabella Lu, Kate McCallum, Daniel Svirsky, Naomi Walch

Appendix 1

Conclusion

Conclusion

Feasibility

Solution

Introduction

Analysis