Microsoft to overhaul business units

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Microsoft Corp has plans to inject stronger financial management into each of its seven business units.

It also says that it intends to strengthen the group's central finance function, but the paper did not cite its sources.

The company is to introduce seven newly appointed senior executives who will act as "CFOs" of each of its units, reporting to the unit's general manager.

The executives will have responsibility for setting financial targets, handling budgeting and measuring performance of their units.

The Journal said the move is the latest phase of Microsoft chief executive officer Steve Balmer's overhaul of the company. His plan is to bring it from being a technology high-flier to a mature industrial giant.