Microsoft’s Nadella Manages Legacy of Ballmer-Board Split - Businessweek

Excerpt from an account of the final chapter of Steve Ballmer's career as Microsoft CEO

"They were frustrated by his tendency to talk more than listen, the people said, and his reaction to the pushback on Nokia was for some the last straw. The board rejected the first deal as too expensive and complex, including not only the handset division but also a mapping unit Microsoft didn’t need. Even without maps, Fitch Ratings called the price “excessive” in a note yesterday, citing a deterioration in the user base for Windows-based phones."

Microsoft’s Nadella Manages Legacy of Ballmer-Board Split - Businessweek