ECT 589 Assignment 3: HBS Case Analysis Report 

Instructions:

Select three of  the following cases to write a 3-page (single-spaced; excluding references) analytical report to address 3 of the listed questions for each selected case.

  1. Your report should be organized according to the three questions. 
  2. Each report requires research beyond the case statement. Include at least four references in addition to the case statement and lecture notes. 
  3. Incorporate the assigned readings and conceptual frameworks in your analysis.
  4. Use subheadings and/or bullets to improve the clarity of the report. 
  5. Follow the format for full citation (author, title, source, date/year, page number, URL), and in-text reference (author, year).
  6. You don't need to write an introduction about the company's background.
  7. Penalty for late submission: 20% for 1 week, 35% for 2 weeks, no lat submission will be accepted after two weeks. 

Issues to Address:

Williams-Sonoma (www.williamssonoma.com )

  1. Assess Patrick Connolly’s effectiveness as a change agent moving Williams-Sonoma toward e-commerce.  What barriers did he face, and how well did he overcome them?  What were the key steps in his change process as the first champion of change?  How well did Michael Dunn take up the challenge?
  2. What are the remaining barriers to change (and Internet effectiveness) that Shelly Nandkeolyn faces?  How should he proceed?  What projects should he initiate?  Define his specific action plan.
  3. What are the main benefits and risks involved in instigating the change process via pilot projects at Williams-Sonoma?

Cisco (www.cisco.com)

  1. What actions has Brad Boston taken since 2001 in centralizing Cisco’s IT planning and strategies?  Assess the impact of these actions on Cisco’s performance.
  2. What are the major responsibilities and contribution of Cisco’s Business Process Operating Committee (BPOC)?  What challenges has BPOC faced in supporting Boston’s IT vision?
  3. Discuss the factors that BPOC should consider in prioritizing the e-customer initiative proposed by the customer advocacy group to implement a global Customer Interaction Network.   If the proposal was turned down, what should Boston communicate to the proposing team?

Wyndham International (wyndham.com)

  1. What is the value of a brand in the lodging industry?

  2. Does the Wyndham ByRequest initiative create competitive advantage? If so, is the advantage it creates significant?  Is it sustainable?  How easy or hard would it be to imitate the Wyndham ByRequest program?

  3. What is your evaluation of the Wyndham ByRequest program?  What would you do if you were put in charge of the program?

Eastman Chemical (www.eastman.com) (address 3 issues)

  1. What is the significance of an integrated supply-chain for Eastman?

  2. What are the options available to Nagase for connecting with Eastman?

  3. What are the underlying requirements for integration and what could the limitations be?

Global Healthcare Exchange (www.ghx.com)

  1. Assess the impact of health care industry trends on the formation of GHX.  How has GHX responded to those trends?

  2.  Trace the evolution of GHX strategies, business models, and technology solutions.  How has GHX evolved to support collaborative commerce?

  3. What are the unique characteristics of GHX as an LLC instead of a public start-up company?  How will its organization and governance structure enhance or constrain its future expansion?

General Motor

  1. GM has made significant investment in SCM, CRM, and IT infrastructure. Discuss the strategies deployed by GM in each of the three areas.  

  2. Should GM continue to invest in all of these initiatives?  If GM needed to be more selective, how could Wagoner decide which initiative were the best investment choices?

  3. Is GM on the right path to building a Digital Loyalty Network?  Will a DLN lead to higher value creation?  What challenges or barriers is GM likely to encounter? What should the team do to overcome these potential challenges or barriers?