Given the amount of internal strife at Microsoft in past years, some don't envy Ray Ozzie's task as chief software architect.

As he himself described it yesterday at a Goldman Sachs event, his role is to deal with"essentially all the major groups trying to bring a perspective of macro level tech or market trends they might not see or pay attention to to vigorously in their planning cycles."

Likewise he must help spot and facilitate opportunities across the groups and divisions "which those in the business groups might not readily recognize."

No mean feat.

In the past, if you wanted dirt about Windows, you'd ask the Office guys and vice versa. The internal rivalries festering in any large organization are bound to stress its fabric. And at Microsoft some of those rivalries were off the chart.

So here's the big question: While no one doubt's Ozzie's powers of persuasion, can he really, REALLY get these people to work towards a common goal when none of the big product group guys report to him?

(Directions on Microsoft says Ozzie's reports include David Vaskevitch, CTO, Robert Hansen, (title unknown); Amit Mital, general manager of Office Live Meeting; David Treadwell, corporate vice president Windows Live Core; and Jack Ozzie GM of Concept Development.)

Just asking is all.

What's your take? Send it along to:bdarrow@cmp.com