The contrast here is being made between two development styles: A centralized, controlled, and focused production system at Apple, versus what Microsoft apparently had before Windows 7: A network of fiefdoms which fought each other over implementation and design details but nevertheless had to secure each others' approval for changes. This brought about stalemates and some truly bizarre outcomes. Here's the famous story about the Windows shutdown menu relating to this:
http://moishelettvin.blogspot.com/2006/11/windows-shutdown-c...
If Microsoft has overcome these [alleged] problems, it would represent a significant change in their development style.