PHOENIX, September 18 /PRNewswire/ --

The Microsoft Wave 14 Launch team is tasked to coordinate and execute a
successful launch of Office, Visio, Project, and SharePoint within the United
States. The expectation is to do more with less, driving launch activities
through existing operating models and marketing engines -- balancing the
independent needs of a broad group of stakeholders, addressing increased
competition, and ensuring alignment and synchronization with world-wide
strategies.

To address these challenges, the Information Worker (IW) Business and
Marketing Organization (BMO) identified an experienced Product Manager to
lead the launch and engaged Pcubed(R) to set up a Launch Program Management
Office (PMO) to guide planning and execution of launch activities. This
Launch team is leveraging the following approach to drive a successful
launch.

"The ability to successfully manage a complex set of activities under
tight deadlines and a constraint budget has never been more important than
today. As Microsoft is readying the most significant version of Microsoft
Project in a decade together with the Office 2010 release, it is exciting to
see Pcubed lend its expertise to help plan and execute the Office launch
effort using Project," Ludovic Hauduc, General Manager for Microsoft Office
Project.

Building a Comprehensive Launch Plan

A marketing-focused program and project management framework is in place
and guiding launch plan definition across the three launch work streams. This
consistent framework enables integration across launch plans and effective
communications across all stakeholders.

Targeting Business-focused Results

Clearly defined business-focused objectives are in place to drive overall
launch delivery effectiveness. This enables definition of a portfolio that
represents marketing activities across the three launch work streams.
Portfolio visibility is supported through an integrated master schedule in
Microsoft Project Server. The Launch team guides optimization of the
marketing mix during launch - identifying gaps, overlaps, conflicts, etc.,
and answering the question: Are we doing the right things?

Driving Effective Delivery

With a significantly smaller budget than past launches, launch execution
is dependent on coordinating efforts across stakeholders and leveraging
existing operating model and engines. Key activities are infused from a
limited launch budget to optimize marketing impact. Execution timing is
critical - launch activities must be in market at a certain time for them to
drive maximum results. The Launch team will guide oversight of launch
delivery execution, answering the question: Are we doing things right?

"This launch is a large complex business initiative with a finite set of
deliverables requiring collaboration with a vast number of people across the
organization. We are excited to be taking a project management focused
approach and using Microsoft Project technology to help deliver a successful
launch and achieve our business objectives." Julie Sanford, US Launch Program
Manager, Microsoft US IW BMO Group.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize
their full potential.

About Pcubed

Pcubed (Program Planning Professionals Inc.) is the global specialist in
portfolio, program and enterprise project management, we partner with top
organizations delivering results through tailor-made solutions to fit each
enterprise culture and individual need.

For more information, visit www.pcubed.com.