Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem Description

This is an MIT Sloan Management Review article. The business world is rapidly digitizing, breaking down industry barriers and creating new opportunities while destroying long-successful business models. Given the amount of turmoil digital disruption is causing, authors Peter Weill and Stephanie L. Woerner of the MIT Center for Information Systems Research say it's time for companies to evaluate these threats and opportunities and create new business options for the more-connected future of digital ecosystems. In recent research, board members at large companies estimated that 32% of their company's revenue would be under threat from digital disruption in the next five years; 60% of board members felt their boards should spend significantly more time on this issue next year. Despite the threats from companies including Uber, Airbnb and Amazon, increasing digitization offers opportunities for companies to leverage strong customer relationships and increase cross-selling, the authors argue. The authors offer a framework, supported by examples, for helping managers think about their competitive environments. "The combination of moving from value chains to ecosystems and increasing consumer knowledge,"the authors write, "provides business leaders with four distinct business models, each with associated capabilities and relationships."Companies can choose to operate as (1) suppliers, (2) omnichannel businesses, (3) modular producers or (4) ecosystem drivers. The authors found that businesses focused narrowly on value chains were at a disadvantage compared with those that thought more broadly about their business ecosystems. Companies that had 50% or more of their revenues from digital ecosystems and understood their end customers better than their average competitor saw 32% higher revenue growth and 27% higher profit margins than their industry averages. As they prepare for growing digital disruption, companies have two major decisions to make. First, they need to decide the extent to which they want to control the value chain or become part of a more complex ecosystem. Second, they need to decide how much they want to invest in knowing their end customers. Companies with ecosystem drivers as their dominant business model had the highest margins and growth of all the four options in the companies the authors studied.

Case Description Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

Strategic Managment Tools Used in Case Study Analysis of Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

STEP 1. Problem Identification in Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem case study

STEP 2. External Environment Analysis - PESTEL / PEST / STEP Analysis of Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem case study

STEP 3. Industry Specific / Porter Five Forces Analysis of Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem case study

STEP 4. Evaluating Alternatives / SWOT Analysis of Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem case study

STEP 5. Porter Value Chain Analysis / VRIO / VRIN Analysis Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem case study

STEP 6. Recommendations Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem case study

STEP 7. Basis of Recommendations for Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem case study

Case Analysis of Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem is a Harvard Business (HBR) Case Study on Global Business , 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. Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem 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. Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem case study will help professionals, MBA, EMBA, and leaders to develop a broad and clear understanding of casecategory challenges. Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem will also provide insight into areas such as – wordlist , strategy, leadership, sales and marketing, and negotiations.

Case Study Solutions Background Work

Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem 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 Global Business, leadership qualities of the protagonist, and dynamics of the external environment. The challenge in front of the protagonist, of Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem, 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 Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem 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 Global Business Solutions

In the Texas Business School, Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem 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 – Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

Step 1 – Problem Identification of Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem - Harvard Business School Case Study

The first step to solve HBR Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem 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 Ecosystems Authors is facing right now. Even though the problem statement is essentially – “Global Business” challenge but it has impacted by others factors such as communication in the organization, uncertainty in the external environment, leadership in Ecosystems Authors, 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 Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem.

The external environment analysis of Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem 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 Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem case study. PESTEL analysis of " Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem" 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 Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem macro-environment and how it impacts the businesses of the firm.

How to do PESTEL Analysis for Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

To do comprehensive PESTEL analysis of case study – Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem , we have researched numerous components under the six factors of PESTEL analysis.

Political Factors that Impact Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

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 Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

Government policies have significant impact on the business environment of any country. The firm in “ Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem ” 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 Ecosystems Authors is operating, firms are required to store customer data within the premises of the country. Ecosystems Authors 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. Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem has numerous instances where the competition regulations aspects can be scrutinized.

Import restrictions on products – Before entering the new market, Ecosystems Authors in case study Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem" 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. Ecosystems Authors in case study “ Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem ” should look into these export restrictions policies.

Foreign Direct Investment Policies – Government policies favors local companies over international policies, Ecosystems Authors in case study “ Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem ” should understand in minute details regarding the Foreign Direct Investment policies of the prospective market.

Taxation & Regulation Impact on Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

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 “ Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem ” 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 Ecosystems Authors can compete against other competitors.

Government Scheme & Subsidies Impact on Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

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 Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem 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 Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

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 – Ecosystems Authors 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 Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

Social Factors that Impact Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

Technological Factors that Impact Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

Environmental Factors that Impact Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

Legal Factors that Impact Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem

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 Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem case study. PESTEL analysis of " Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem" 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.

Step 4 – SWOT Analysis / Internal Environment Analysis

Step 5 – Porter Value Chain / VRIO / VRIN Analysis

Step 6 – Evaluating Alternatives & Recommendations

Step 7 – Basis for Recommendations

References :: Thriving in an Increasingly Digital Ecosystem case study solution