Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation Description
In 2013, Mathias Dopfner, CEO of the publishing house Axel Springer SE, a premier source of content in Germany, with its popular newspapers and magazines such as Bild and Die Welt, was evaluating the progress of his company's digital transformation. The advent of the digital revolution at the end of the twentieth century had caused an appreciable shift in the publishing industry. Traditional print media players were confronted with major technological advancements and changes in consumer tastes and how news was consumed. Thus, the challenge for Axel Springer was in finding fresh ways to disDopfner had directed Axel Springer to approach this task with a two-stage digital transformation strategy process. Beginning in 2006, the company focused on organic growth and late-stage digital acquisitions. This stage of the strategy process had centered around profitability and the infusion of digitization into the corporate culture. In 2013, the second stage of the strategy process was driven by Dopfner's formulation of the firm's corporate mission to become "The Leading Digital Publisher" and his defining the company's business as its branded content and not its distribution channels. With this new strategy, Axel Springer intended to espouse early-stage investments and entrepreneurship and grow revenue through three business models: paid content, marketing, and classified advertising. As of 2013, Dopfner's two-stage digital transformation strategy had been a stunning success. Axel Springer had more than 12,800 employees, total revenues of $3.9 billion, and EBITDA of $625 million. The company had exceeded the goals it had set for digital media contributions to revenue and EBITDA, achieved reach in 44 countries, and serviced 98 million unique digital visitors worldwide. Looking forward in April 2014, however, it was clear that the future still held many challenges. Dopfner knew that Axel Springer would need to continue to successfully balance digital and traditional media business strategies, further reestablish the firm's identity, and continue to pioneer the cultural transition within the organization. Most importantly, he realized the urgency of preparing his organization for the looming battle between digitally transforming old media content providers (like Axel Springer) and new giant digital technology experts (like Google) transforming themselves into media companies. He also pondered whether it would be possible, and if so how, to mobilize a sufficiently powerful coalition to help the digitally transforming old media content providers in that battle.
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Case Analysis of Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation
Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation is a Harvard Business (HBR) Case Study on Leadership & Managing People , 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. Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation 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. Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation case study will help professionals, MBA, EMBA, and leaders to develop a broad and clear understanding of casecategory challenges. Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation will also provide insight into areas such as – wordlist , strategy, leadership, sales and marketing, and negotiations.
Case Study Solutions Background Work
Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation
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 Leadership & Managing People, leadership qualities of the protagonist, and dynamics of the external environment. The challenge in front of the protagonist, of Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation, 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 Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation 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 Leadership & Managing People Solutions
In the Texas Business School, Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation 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 – Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation
Step 1 – Problem Identification of Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation - Harvard Business School Case Study
The first step to solve HBR Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation 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 Axel Springer is facing right now. Even though the problem statement is essentially – “Leadership & Managing People” challenge but it has impacted by others factors such as communication in the organization, uncertainty in the external environment, leadership in Axel Springer, 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 Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation.
The external environment analysis of Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation 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 Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation case study. PESTEL analysis of " Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation" 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 Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation macro-environment and how it impacts the businesses of the firm.
How to do PESTEL Analysis for Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation
To do comprehensive PESTEL analysis of case study – Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation , we have researched numerous components under the six factors of PESTEL analysis.
Political Factors that Impact Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation
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 Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation
Government policies have significant impact on the business environment of any country. The firm in “ Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation ” 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 Axel Springer is operating, firms are required to store customer data within the premises of the country. Axel Springer 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. Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation has numerous instances where the competition regulations aspects can be scrutinized.
Import restrictions on products – Before entering the new market, Axel Springer in case study Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation" 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. Axel Springer in case study “ Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation ” should look into these export restrictions policies.
Foreign Direct Investment Policies – Government policies favors local companies over international policies, Axel Springer in case study “ Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation ” should understand in minute details regarding the Foreign Direct Investment policies of the prospective market.
Taxation & Regulation Impact on Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation
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 “ Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation ” 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 Axel Springer can compete against other competitors.
Government Scheme & Subsidies Impact on Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation
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 Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation 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 Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation
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 – Axel Springer 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 Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation
Social Factors that Impact Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation
Technological Factors that Impact Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation
Environmental Factors that Impact Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation
Legal Factors that Impact Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation
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 Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation case study. PESTEL analysis of " Axel Springer in 2014: Strategic Leadership of the Digital Transformation" 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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