Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer has announced an operational realignment and a reshuffle of top management in a fresh attempt to remake the software company for an era in which the rules are set by rivals such as Apple and Google.

The changes are meant to position the company better to come up with new computing experiences that take advantage of the mobile devices and services that are defining the way technology is now delivered, Mr Ballmer said in an email to employees.

The shake-up includes an attempt to break down the walls between the large operating divisions that have long kept Microsoft employees in carefully defined silos. These have been blamed by many observers and former executives for holding back new ideas that span the range of Microsoft’s activities.