In 1998,chief information officers (CIOs) in the highly competitive international gases and chemicals business faced the reality that electronic commerce capability was a strategic necessity. The results of annual surveys of technology officers in the chemical industry indicated a shift in priorities from the building of a corporation's internal infrastructure in 1995 to enabling the same infrastructure to connect with customers, suppliers, and partners in 1998. The CIOs cited computer-supported collaborative work, electronic commerce, and Internet systems as critical technologies in 1998, according to surveys conducted by Computer Sciences Corp. Most companies have completed in-house reengineering tasks and are ready to put new systems to work managing whole supply chains. The increasing strategic importance of electronic commerce commanded the attention of the senior executives of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., an international corporation with headquarters in Trexlertown, PA. With sales of $4.6 billion in 1997, Air Products held the number two position in the gases industry in the United States, behind Praxair, and was the fourth largest provider in the worldwide market. Air Products Management Information Systems (MIS) Vice President Joe McMakin and his colleagues recognized the opportunity: they could improve service to customers by automating the buying, selling, and distribution of products, while simultaneously improving productivity and realizing cost savings. A rewritten version of an earlier case.
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Case Analysis of Electronic Commerce at Air Products
Electronic Commerce at Air Products is a Harvard Business (HBR) Case Study on Technology & Operations , Texas Business School provides HBR case study assignment help for just $9. Texas Business School(TBS) case study solution is based on HBR Case Study Method framework, TBS expertise & global insights. Electronic Commerce at Air Products is designed and drafted in a manner to allow the HBR case study reader to analyze a real-world problem by putting reader into the position of the decision maker. Electronic Commerce at Air Products case study will help professionals, MBA, EMBA, and leaders to develop a broad and clear understanding of casecategory challenges. Electronic Commerce at Air Products will also provide insight into areas such as – wordlist , strategy, leadership, sales and marketing, and negotiations.
Case Study Solutions Background Work
Electronic Commerce at Air Products
case study solution
is focused on solving the strategic and operational challenges the protagonist of the case is facing. The challenges involve – evaluation of strategic options, key role of Technology & Operations, leadership qualities of the protagonist, and dynamics of the external environment. The challenge in front of the protagonist, of Electronic Commerce at Air Products, is to not only build a competitive position of the organization but also to sustain it over a period of time.
Strategic Management Tools Used in Case Study Solution
The Electronic Commerce at Air Products case study solution requires the MBA, EMBA, executive, professional to have a deep understanding of various strategic management tools such as SWOT Analysis, PESTEL Analysis / PEST Analysis / STEP Analysis, Porter Five Forces Analysis, Go To Market Strategy, BCG Matrix Analysis, Porter Value Chain Analysis, Ansoff Matrix Analysis, VRIO / VRIN and Marketing Mix Analysis.
Texas Business School Approach to Technology & Operations Solutions
In the Texas Business School, Electronic Commerce at Air Products case study solution – following strategic tools are used - SWOT Analysis, PESTEL Analysis / PEST Analysis / STEP Analysis, Porter Five Forces Analysis, Go To Market Strategy, BCG Matrix Analysis, Porter Value Chain Analysis, Ansoff Matrix Analysis, VRIO / VRIN and Marketing Mix Analysis.
We have additionally used the concept of supply chain management and leadership framework to build a comprehensive case study solution for the case – Electronic Commerce at Air Products
Step 1 – Problem Identification of Electronic Commerce at Air Products - Harvard Business School Case Study
The first step to solve HBR Electronic Commerce at Air Products case study solution is to identify the problem present in the case. The problem statement of the case is provided in the beginning of the case where the protagonist is contemplating various options in the face of numerous challenges that Air Electronic is facing right now. Even though the problem statement is essentially – “Technology & Operations” challenge but it has impacted by others factors such as communication in the organization, uncertainty in the external environment, leadership in Air Electronic, style of leadership and organization structure, marketing and sales, organizational behavior, strategy, internal politics, stakeholders priorities and more.
Step 2 – External Environment Analysis
Texas Business School approach of case study analysis – Conclusion, Reasons, Evidences - provides a framework to analyze every HBR case study. It requires conducting robust external environmental analysis to decipher evidences for the reasons presented in the Electronic Commerce at Air Products.
The external environment analysis of Electronic Commerce at Air Products will ensure that we are keeping a tab on the macro-environment factors that are directly and indirectly impacting the business of the firm.
What is PESTEL Analysis? Briefly Explained
PESTEL stands for political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors that impact the external environment of firm in Electronic Commerce at Air Products case study. PESTEL analysis of " Electronic Commerce at Air Products" can help us understand why the organization is performing badly, what are the factors in the external environment that are impacting the performance of the organization, and how the organization can either manage or mitigate the impact of these external factors.
How to do PESTEL / PEST / STEP Analysis? What are the components of PESTEL Analysis?
As mentioned above PESTEL Analysis has six elements – political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal. All the six elements are explained in context with Electronic Commerce at Air Products macro-environment and how it impacts the businesses of the firm.
How to do PESTEL Analysis for Electronic Commerce at Air Products
To do comprehensive PESTEL analysis of case study – Electronic Commerce at Air Products , we have researched numerous components under the six factors of PESTEL analysis.
Political Factors that Impact Electronic Commerce at Air Products
Political factors impact seven key decision making areas – economic environment, socio-cultural environment, rate of innovation & investment in research & development, environmental laws, legal requirements, and acceptance of new technologies.
Policy Making Impact on Electronic Commerce at Air Products
Government policies have significant impact on the business environment of any country. The firm in “ Electronic Commerce at Air Products ” needs to navigate these policy decisions to create either an edge for itself or reduce the negative impact of the policy as far as possible.
Data safety laws – The countries in which Air Electronic is operating, firms are required to store customer data within the premises of the country. Air Electronic needs to restructure its IT policies to accommodate these changes. In the EU countries, firms are required to make special provision for privacy issues and other laws.
Competition Regulations – Numerous countries have strong competition laws both regarding the monopoly conditions and day to day fair business practices. Electronic Commerce at Air Products has numerous instances where the competition regulations aspects can be scrutinized.
Import restrictions on products – Before entering the new market, Air Electronic in case study Electronic Commerce at Air Products" should look into the import restrictions that may be present in the prospective market.
Export restrictions on products – Apart from direct product export restrictions in field of technology and agriculture, a number of countries also have capital controls. Air Electronic in case study “ Electronic Commerce at Air Products ” should look into these export restrictions policies.
Foreign Direct Investment Policies – Government policies favors local companies over international policies, Air Electronic in case study “ Electronic Commerce at Air Products ” should understand in minute details regarding the Foreign Direct Investment policies of the prospective market.
Taxation & Regulation Impact on Electronic Commerce at Air Products
Corporate Taxes – The rate of taxes is often used by governments to lure foreign direct investments or increase domestic investment in a certain sector. Corporate taxation can be divided into two categories – taxes on profits and taxes on operations. Taxes on profits number is important for companies that already have a sustainable business model, while taxes on operations is far more significant for companies that are looking to set up new plants or operations.
Tariffs – Chekout how much tariffs the firm needs to pay in the “ Electronic Commerce at Air Products ” case study. The level of tariffs will determine the viability of the business model that the firm is contemplating. If the tariffs are high then it will be extremely difficult to compete with the local competitors. But if the tariffs are between 5-10% then Air Electronic can compete against other competitors.
Government Scheme & Subsidies Impact on Electronic Commerce at Air Products
Research and Development Subsidies and Policies – Governments often provide tax breaks and other incentives for companies to innovate in various sectors of priority. Managers at Electronic Commerce at Air Products case study have to assess whether their business can benefit from such government assistance and subsidies.
Consumer protection – Different countries have different consumer protection laws. Managers need to clarify not only the consumer protection laws in advance but also legal implications if the firm fails to meet any of them.
Political System & Stability, and its Impact on Electronic Commerce at Air Products
Political System and Its Implications – Different political systems have different approach to free market and entrepreneurship. Managers need to assess these factors even before entering the market.
Freedom of Press is critical for fair trade and transparency. Countries where freedom of press is not prevalent there are high chances of both political and commercial corruption.
Corruption level – Air Electronic needs to assess the level of corruptions both at the official level and at the market level, even before entering a new market. To tackle the menace of corruption – a firm should have a clear SOP that provides managers at each level what to do when they encounter instances of either systematic corruption or bureaucrats looking to take bribes from the firm.
Independence of judiciary – It is critical for fair business practices. If a country doesn’t have independent judiciary then there is no point entry into such a country for business.
Government attitude towards trade unions – Different political systems and government have different attitude towards trade unions and collective bargaining. The firm needs to assess – its comfort dealing with the unions and regulations regarding unions in a given market or industry. If both are on the same page then it makes sense to enter, otherwise it doesn’t.
Economic Factors that Impact Electronic Commerce at Air Products
Social Factors that Impact Electronic Commerce at Air Products
Technological Factors that Impact Electronic Commerce at Air Products
Environmental Factors that Impact Electronic Commerce at Air Products
Legal Factors that Impact Electronic Commerce at Air Products
Step 3 – Industry Specific Analysis
What is Porter Five Forces Analysis
PESTEL stands for political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors that impact the external environment of firm in Electronic Commerce at Air Products case study. PESTEL analysis of " Electronic Commerce at Air Products" can help us understand why the organization is performing badly, what are the factors in the external environment that are impacting the performance of the organization, and how the organization can either manage or mitigate the impact of these external factors.
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