If you are looking for expert comment on Microsoft buying LinkedIn. Mark Skilton, of Warwick Business School is a Professor of Practice in the Information Systems & Management Group and researches technology ecosystems around defining value and monetization.
He is the author of Building digital ecosystem architectures and Building the digital enterprise.
Professor Mark Skilton said: “The acquisition makes sense in respect of Microsoft’s link with enterprise in its cloud platform and portfolio of enterprise business services, it will help Microsoft build out its enterprise services capabilities.
“The long running rumours of LinkedIn not being able to develop any new growth strategies, with its net income falling year on year from 2011, have finally come home to roost with the Microsoft acquisition of $26bn in cash.
“LinkedIn has grown a user base of 106 million active users, but compared to 310 million active Twitter users and the mighty 1.65 billion Facebook monthly users, LinkedIn has never managed to grow its commercial services in what could have been a strong enterprise market.
“LinkedIn makes two thirds of its income from talent solutions in recruiting and job market services that define it and the remainder in selling marketing solutions and premium subscriptions. It has remained the website to go to for professional networking.”