Microsoft PowerShell is the preferred way to perform many enterprise administrative tasks. The flexibility to quickly perform tasks on OUs of computers in AD, or query a network subnet of Windows machines, or even remotely query which host is locking out a user account are all things that PowerShell shines at enabling an administrator to perform at a moment's notice.
PowerShell has become robust enough that it is not unheard of for OEMs and partners to also create their own cmdlets that can be imported into your scripting environment and used. Script sharing is possible: the Microsoft TechNet Hey Scripting Guy! library is an excellent resource for accessing trusted and peer-reviewed PowerShell scripts to perform a variety of tasks. VMWare is one company that has created their own PowerShell scripts.
The ability to automate common administrative tasks in a scripted...