28.6k views
5 votes
Microsoft is the market leader in client/server networking.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE

User Zzzirk
by
8.3k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The claim that Microsoft is the market leader in client/server networking is not fully accurate without context; by 2014, Microsoft held about 14% of the total market for all computer software and services. Market leadership is nuanced and can vary depending on the scope of the market being considered. Therefore, Microsoft's leadership in the operating systems market in the 1990s does not necessarily translate to overall leadership in client/server networking.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that Microsoft is the market leader in client/server networking is not entirely true, as context is important. While Microsoft was indeed dominant in the operating systems market, particularly in the 1990s, by 2014 the company's market share in the total market for all computer software and services was around 14%. In those terms, Microsoft cannot be considered the absolute market leader in client/server networking, as the market includes a variety of software and services, including client/server networks, where other companies also play a significant role.

The overall market landscape is nuanced. For example, Greyhound has a near-monopoly in intercity bus transportation, but it represents a small fraction of the broader intercity transportation market, which includes private cars and other forms of transportation. Similarly, DeBeers controls a large portion of diamond sales but is a smaller player in the overall market for precious gemstones and jewelry. These examples illustrate that market dominance can be specific to a niche, rather than universal across all possible arenas where a company operates.

In essence, defining a market leader requires specifying the market scope. A market leader in one segment may only be a regular competitor in a wider market context. Therefore, the term 'market leader' needs careful definition to be meaningful in discussions surrounding business and competition, such as in the case of Microsoft's position in the market.

User Dshkol
by
7.9k points