????Windows部門總裁史蒂芬?辛諾夫斯基的離職震驚了微軟（Microsoft）內外。直到這周之前，許多人還認為微軟這位元老級的精英高管將是接替現任CEO史蒂夫?鮑爾默的人選。不過，如果不考慮辛諾夫斯基離職（或被要求離職）的原因，同時忽略這次離職可能引發的短期混亂，這次人事變動也許是微軟邁向全新的Windows 8時代的積極一步。

????諷刺的是，微軟（Microsoft）希望借助Windows 8重奪個人電腦市場，而辛諾夫斯基正是推動Windows 8問世的幕后功臣。與微軟之前的Windows系統不同，Windows 8可以同時在PC機、平板電腦和手機上使用。這就需要位于雷蒙德的科技巨頭微軟的多個部門通力協作。（而該公司恰恰因為內部互不協作而聲名狼藉——不了解情況的讀者可以點擊此處查看微軟的組織結構圖。）而辛諾夫斯基在微軟是一個極端人物。他負責開發的軟件從來都能按時發布，但他也是出了名的難以相處。要想讓微軟的希望——Windows 8獲得成功，微軟內部各大派系需要繼續齊心協力，而不是明爭暗斗。

????現任CEO鮑爾默在公司周一發表的聲明中暗示了這一點，他說他對“史蒂芬多年來對公司做出的貢獻表示感激”，但同時也表示，如今“我們必須讓微軟所有部門繼續齊頭并進，讓我們服務產品的開發周期更加完整而迅速。”

????辛諾夫斯基本來最有望成為鮑爾默的接班人。畢竟他了解微軟各方面的業務，在公司內部也培養了忠心耿耿的追隨者團隊。不過，如果微軟未來走的是各部門通力協作、加快軟件更新速度的道路，那么這位前Windows總裁就顯得可有可無了。他的離職給了微軟培養團隊協作型領袖以創造偉大產品的機會，也向外界傳達了微軟內部團結一致的信息。弗雷斯特研究公司（Forrester Research）的分析師薩拉?羅特曼?艾普斯使用微軟的平板電腦Surface寫道：“辛諾夫斯基命令控制式的風格給搭檔、媒體、分析師和顧客都造成了困惑，而微軟當前需要的是清晰透明。”

????此刻的微軟正站在了十字路口上。市場研究機構IHS iSuppli近期的報告顯示，到2016年，微軟在PC機、平板電腦和手機的操作系統上的占有率將會下滑至33%，而2011年這一比例是44%。迄今為止，微軟在移動產品市場已經錯失了大量機會。微軟的“新時代”就是將智能手機和平板電腦與傳統的電腦結合起來，這一切都有賴于Windows 8系統。這不僅僅意味著微軟在硬件和軟件上的重心都會偏向移動產品，也不單是在其富有競爭力的部門之間架起橋梁，讓微軟的所有產品受益于同一種技術。

????The departure of Windows chief Steven Sinofsky came as a shock both inside and outside of Microsoft. Up until this week, many believed the long-time, powerful exec was next in line for current CEO Steve Ballmer's job. But regardless of Sinofsky's reasons for leaving (or being asked to leave), and the short-term turmoil it will likely cause, it may turn out to be a positive step for Microsoft as the company heads into a new, Windows 8-driven era.

????Ironically, Sinfosky was the driving force behind Windows 8, the company's attempt to reclaim lost relevance in the personal computing world. Unlike previous versions of Microsoft's (MSFT) operating system, Windows 8 encompasses PCs, tablets and phones. It required the various divisions of the Redmond-based tech giant to work together. (The company is notorious for the opposite -- if you haven't seen it before, check out the satirical take on its organizational chart here.) But Sinfosky was a polarizing figure at Microsoft. He had an impressive track record for delivering software on time but was known for his combative style. For Windows 8 -- the future of Microsoft -- to succeed, the company's various factions need to continue to collaborate, not compete.

????Current CEO Ballmer alluded to this need in a release issued by the company on Monday, saying he is "grateful for the many years of work that Steven has contributed to the company," but adding that it is now "imperative that we continue to drive alignment across all Microsoft teams, and have more integrated and rapid development cycles for our offerings."

????Sinofsky seemed the most logical future successor to Ballmer. After all, he knew the business inside and out and had developed a loyal group of followers at the company. But if Microsoft's future is all about driving alignment within the company and faster software updates, the former Windows head didn't have the necessary profile. His departure presents an opportunity for Microsoft to cultivate leaders that can work together to build great products--and convey a more unified message to outsiders. "Sinofsky's command-and-control approach has yielded confusion (among partners, media, analysts, and customers) exactly at the moment where Microsoft needs clarity," writes Forrester Research analyst Sarah Rotman Epps (from her Microsoft Surface tablet).

????Microsoft stands at a crossroads. According to a recent report from IHS iSuppli, the company's share of the operating system market for PCs, tablets and phones is expected to slip to 33% in 2016, down from 44% in 2011. Up to now, it has largely missed out on mobile. The "new era" at Microsoft is all marrying smartphones and tablets with traditional computing, all under the umbrella of Windows 8. And it doesn't just mean a more mobility-centric hardware and software focus, or bridging the gaps between its notoriously competitive divisions so that all Microsoft products benefit from the same technology.