Hewlett-Packard is categorized in the Diversified Computer Systems industry of the Technology sector. Within the Computer Systems industry Hewlett-Packard has many high profile competitors such as: Canon, Dell, IBM, Apple, and Cisco Systems. The Computer Systems industry contains a large range of products including but not limited to: desktop computers, personal notebooks, printers, scanners, cameras, and different software programs. Most companies, such as Dell, Apple or Gateway, tend to be limited to a small product range. Compared to other industry competitors, Hewlett-Packard has a wide variety of consumer products. This gives HP a competitive advantage in the consumer market due to their brand name coverage in the technology industry. Hewlett-Packard offers desktops, notebooks, handhelds (pocket PC’s), monitors, home networking, televisions, digital photography, printers and printing supplies. Hewlett-Packard does not specialize in just one product line. With new technology innovations, some of their previously lesser known lines have grown to be Continue reading
Business Analysis Case
Case Study of FedEx: Leveraging Information Technology to Grow Business
Federal Express is a global express transportation and logistics company that offers customers a single source for global shipping, logistics, and supply chain solutions. It was founded in 1973 by Frederick W. Smith. Since its inception FedEx pioneered the express delivery industry. The company focused on the core business of express delivery and provided overnight delivery services to the customers globally. However, the transformation of businesses and customers from old economy to the new economy forced FedEx to reposition itself from ‘overnight delivery service’ to a ‘one-stop-shop’ for the entire logistics requirement of the business. The company became the logistics service provider of leading organizations, like, General Motors. Background of FedEx During the late 1960s, Frederick Smith (Smith) chanced upon an idea to start an airline courier company. During this period, it was common practice to send packages as cargo on commercial carriers like American, United or Delta Airlines. This Continue reading
SWOT Analysis of Tesla Motors
Tesla, Inc. is an American company that specializes in electric automobiles, energy storage, and solar panel manufacturing. Founded in 2003, Tesla has recently disrupted many industries, most notably the auto industry. Tesla’s focus on electric power vehicles, lithium-ion battery, and energy storage set itself apart from their competitors. Tesla has expanded its focus from simply building the best electric car to paving the way for autonomous vehicles, solar power, and so much more. The main message of Tesla, Inc.’s mission is “to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport by bringing compelling mass market electric cars to market as soon as possible”. This demonstration of leadership and shared knowledge expresses their overall effort to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. While it isn’t common for a company to hope their competitors copy their products, this is exactly what CEO, Elon Musk, hopes for. While Tesla is a business, it is more Continue reading
Case Study: Lessons from Blockbuster’s Downfall
With roughly 8,000 locations, the Blockbuster Company is a market leader in rental movies and video games. The businesses rented movies and video games to consumers for personal use. Blockbuster’s eyesight is to be a one-stop-shop for games and films. Its objective is to continue growing its fundamental rental business while leveraging its company image, massive database, retail locations, and cinema interactions to convey an even wider scope of home entertainment to existing and new viewers. The corporation has operations in the United States of America, Europe, Latin America, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and Asia. Blockbuster’s headquarters are in Dallas, Texas, and the company employs 58,561 individuals on a full-time, part-time, and occasional basis. The business made $5,287.9 million in income during the fiscal year ending January 2009, down from 4.6% in 2008. Blockbuster blamed the profit reduction mainly on non-cash asset impairments against its goodwill and other long-lived investments. By renting Continue reading
History and Background of Ryanair
Ryanair is an Irish airway company that was established in 1985 by three Irish businessmen – Tony Ryan (the founder of Irish aircraft leasing company Guinness Peat Aviation), Christopher Ryan, and Liam Lonergan, the owner of Irish travel firm Club Air. Tony Ryan’s two sons also took leading roles in the startup, with Cathal Ryan bringing his flying experience as a pilot while Declan Ryan offered financial expertise gained while working as an accountant. At the beginning, the firm had only one flight between London Gatwick and southeastern Ireland. Ryanair’s first aircraft had only 15 seats. Because of tiny cabins, the firm hired only people who were less than 5 foot and 2 inches tall. Soon after its launch, the company decided to work on Dublin-London route. This time was very prosperous. During this period, a number of the firm’s passengers grew from five thousand to eighty-two thousand. However, in 1990, Ryanair Continue reading
Case Study: Starbucks Growth Strategy
In 1971, three academics, English Teacher Jerry Baldwin, History Teacher Zel Siegel and writer Gordon Bowker opened Starbucks Coffee, Tea and Spice in Touristy Pikes Place Market in Seattle. The three were inspired by entrepreneur Alfred Peet (whom they knew personally) to sell high-quality coffee beans and equipment. The store did not offer fresh brewed coffee by the cup, but tasting samples were sometimes available. Siegel will wore a grocers apron, scooped out beans for customers while the other two kept their day jobs but came by at lunch or after work to help out. The store was an immediate success, with sales exceeding expectations, partly because of interest stirred by the favorable article in Seattle Times. Starbucks ordered its coffee-bean from Alfred Peet but later on the three partners bought their own used roaster setting up roasting operations in a nearby ramshackle building and developed their own blends and Continue reading