1) How did information systems and the organization design changes implemented by Knudstorp align with the changes in business strategy? When Knudstorp became the CEO, the company was with negative cash flow and the real risk o which would have even led to a breakup of the company.
There was the change in the business strategy in the company that was brought up by the new CEO. The strategy was to survive, cut costs, sell businesses, generate cash and ignore the dash for the growth in the immediate future. Lego was known for the traditional blocks and components that will allow children to build anything with their imagination. The business strategy was to broaden the Lego products for the other customer segments. They created the
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To achieve its business strategies the LEGO has taken the help of the IT vendors IBM and SAP for the establishment of their IS making it possible to extend more quickly and add capacity and functionality as it was needed. Supporting massive expansion brings its own challenges, one of which is to ensure that the underlying systems can scale reliably and effectively. The main issues with the supply chain management, end customer feedbacks, product profit accountability, spread its market and the various unit functioning etc. had been addressed completely by the advent and the establishment of the efficient IS for the business.
Thus, in the LEGO Case study provided, the new CEO Knudstorp has very efficiently aligned the IS and organization design with respective to the business strategy to bring success for the company.
2) Which of the generic strategies does Lego appear to be using based on this case? Provide support of your choice.
The strategies that Lego had used based on this case study are
Cost leadership:
The costs of the company has to be minimized so as to minimize the cost for the customer without deceasing the profits. The company has applied
The major dilemma at hand is avoiding a takeover. The economy was bad at the time, and the company's stock price was thought to be undervalued, as their low P/E ratio of 13.3 indicated. Management needs to find out why their stock price is so undervalued.
On one hand, partnering with such supplier has offered the company the greatest freedom to operate. One the other hand, technological spillover and inventions came up from the developmental stage are also likely to occur. The worst case is that competitor might protect those inventions which prevent the LEGO Group form using their own innovation. Protection of those inventions is deemed necessary to the growth of the
LEGO, today, has become a household name but it hasn't always been that successful. Throughout the years, it has survived and thrived against all odds, repeatedly.
The Lego Group tried to catch up the market trends during the period, but they ignored that the industry total profit pool decreased by 50% Between 1999 and 2003. It's naturally for players to reduce mass production and focus on core competency. However, the Lego Group invested significantly in expansion not only in brick-based product lines, but also beyond the brick. The expansion was not focusing on its core competency.
At that time, the performance winners for LEGO were speed (of delivery), and flexibility (wide range of products, volume and delivery adjustments at short notice). Cost, dependability and quality were not as vital. To achieve these objectives, LEGO had made several operational decisions: Speed: • Maintain multiple distribution centres, close to key markets: 5 in Europe, 1 in USA • Maintain high stock levels, of finished product, and components so products could be assembled quickly. Flexibility: • Supply retailers both large and small, from relatively close distribution centres • Frequent, small, orders accepted • Introduce new products to the range, and discontinue old
Lego Corp was established in 1932 by founder Ole Kirk Kristiansen. With just 10 employees, they start crafting wooden construction toys. The most famous of these were the wooden duck. As the popularity of plastic toys rose in the mid-1950s, the company did away with wooden toys and started focusing on manufacturing plastic automatic binding blocks. As early as the beginning of the company, their motto was “Only the best is good enough.” High quality and safe products have been the focal point of LEGO Group for decades. Over the years LEGO Group has kept its word on that motto and has supplied millions of families with creative toys that last.
LEGO, like most companies in the toy industry are fighting to stay profitable in this
Q.1: How did the information systems and the organization design changes implemented by knudstorp align with the changes in business strategy?
1. How did the information systems and the organization design changes implemented by Knudstorp align with the changes in business strategy?
In 2002 and beginning of 2003 LEGO struggle with low sales and an increase in their inventory levels due to an intensification of their competitors, adapting their process as LEGO did in the beginning
1. What was the organization design that was in place at McKinsey and what did they want to change? Did the change in design complement their strategy? What were the key barriers to implementing change?
1. How did the information systems and the organization design changes implemented by Knudstorp align with the changes in business strategy?
Lego's key strengths may be seen as coming from both its brand recognition and its ability to use innovative
Lego has many diversified products, but the base of all of them are the plastic Bricks, which actually makes the company successful as the result of the possibility of rebuilt the
11. From a logistics perspective, how is network organizational design manifested in terms of relevancy, responsiveness, and flexibility? (give examples)