IBM and Integrated Global Enterprise - Essay Example

IBM and global citizenship Table of content Executive summary………………………………………………………………………………3 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………..3 IBM as a global organization……………………………………………………………………...4 IBM business strategy……………………………………………………………………………..4 Matrix of power and interest of stakeholders……………………………………………………..5 Skills of global leaders……………………………………………………………..……………5 IBM adaptation…………………………………………………………………………………..5 Global forces………………………………………………………………………………………5 References………………………………………………………………………………………..8 Appendix…………………………………………………………………………………………9 IBM an integrated global enterprise Executive summary IBM is a self described and internationally integrated firm that focuses on innovation. It has over 380, 000 employees working in more than 170 nations in the world. In its efforts to develop values, IBM is dependent on its workers. Employees are required to choose the best option from various alternatives in decision making process. This is because people’s choices entirely depend on beliefs which imply that such beliefs coincide with the organization’s beliefs and values. IBM has grouped its businesses into four segments. The global service that deals with technology services and the software that offers operating systems to assist customers integrate desperate information technology applications (Kanter, 2009). On the international front, IBM is well known and a purpose for its success. Over 50 percent of IBM’s revenues stem from its foreign operations. Further, it is significant to note that most of IBM’s workers worked outside the United States. A growing proportion of IBM’s employees and revenues have shifted to non-US countries. For instance, the BRIC nations had expanded at twice the international rate to almost 21 percent. IBM investments have increased in other emerging markets. For instance, in 2007, IBM asserted that it planned to invest $ 1.6 billion in developing countries in Africa, Middle East and Asia. Introduction IBM’s interest in being a global name focused on different strategies. Stakeholder alignment is an important part of marketing planning and implementation. Trade-offs exist at every level and should be balanced according to consumer needs/wants. “Organizations must connect not just with their consumers but with all the stakeholders, for the people affected by what the company do and how well it performs. The students’ interest is to ensure that they communicate easily with each other, use the experience for future workplace. IBM business partners included system integrators, specialist software, trainers, competitors and resellers with whom the company connects to provide an integrated solution to customers. In addition, IBM depended on business partners globally but emerging markets even more strongly than in mature ones. IBM as a global organization IBM as an organization interest will aim at more marketing and promotions of school. Further, it will seek to advertise to people how IBM can create sustainable value for students and school community in its entirety. In addition, IBM as organization will aim at creating neutral relationships among its members because the organization understand that relationships contain conflicting interests that need to be mediated and eventually optimized according to new improvement philosophies. Moreover, management has been careful to maintain a high level of efficiency, and the approach has ended in a worse market response. Developing a cross-functional communication framework will become an important part of the improved CRM system, and should assist in closing the stakeholder communication gap. IBM had focused on technology education especially universities and colleges which would assist ensure technical competence for future workers and in partner business. In foreign and developing countries, IBM’s role in educating business partners and increasing its operational standards was more significant in its success. Explain what global forces drive IBM to become a global integrated enterprise IBM depended entirely on business partners and competitors on a global front. Such business partners raised money for training business partners and workers in an attempt to gain skilled and experienced employees. It is also significant to note that emerging markets in foreign countries provided IBM with an opportunity to expand in the sense that it had the chance to invest in these countries. For example, in Russia, with its huge geographic extent and 10 time zones, business partners were a significant part of the go to market strategy of IBM. Additionally, business partners could also utilize lower paid workers on small projects thus making IBM technology cheap, easily accessible and reliable to local consumers. At the same time, it preserved the prestige and status of IBM as quality service provider. Explain how has IBM adapted thus far (what IBM did and how IBM did it) In an attempt to reduce lagging behind between customers and technological innovation, IBM sough means to illustrate the potential for creativity and innovation to drive new solutions and offer new services to its customers. Therefore, IBM set up innovation centers that demonstrated new possibilities and future prototypes for different firms. For example, in China, IBM established the China Technology lab in Beijing while in Spain, innovation center focused on establishing future banks. Discuss what skills should global leaders have Just from example of IB M leadership and the readings, global leaders have to conduct enough research before adopting any strategy. This is because they need to identify the opportunities and challenges that face the organization. Among the challenges that face the organization is opposition from the government. The British government does not want to see IBM organization established as a fully-fledged organization because they think it will not concentrate on the affairs of the students in the schools but instead it would concentrate on maximizing profits. Communication strategy is very significant in that stakeholders with relevant knowledge will be in charge of communication. In addition, it will important to adopt a strategy to develop information campaign for the people who are opposed to the idea and increase the knowledge (Emerson, 2009). Figure 1. Matrix of power and interest of stakeholders’ High Power Low Interest High In order to succeed, different communications strategies will be vital for individuals and groups within different boxes. There is the need to realize that stakeholders with influence, authority high interest to be engaged in a close manner in order to attain their support. These stakeholders are the initial targets for any communications strategies at the very top of this list might be the “decision-makers” themselves. In order to succeed in this campaign, it is important to look for enough support people with less influence and authority. This will in turn increase the group’s influence and authority as collective rather than individual. It is of great significance to understand that this project will not only focus on resources and time, but also in engaging all people both with high and low. Therefore, from the discussion, it will be necessary to create a strong communication strategy that will engage all people without favor or discrimination. References Emerson, P. (2009). Building IBM: Shaping an Industry and Its Technology. Boston, MA: The MIT Press. Jeffery, Y. (2001). The IBM Century: Creating the IT Revolution. New York, NY: Kindle Books. Kanter, R. (October 2009). IBM in the 21st century: The coming of the globally integrated Enterprise. Harvard: Harvard Business Review. Appendix Figure 1. Matrix of power and interest of stakeholders’ Read More