Case 6 Dell Inc in 2008.Doc

Dell. Dell’s products—computers, servers and printers—are commodities. Dell tends not to develop the technologies underlying these products. Instead, it purchases the components from firms that develop the technologies (semiconductors and computer software). Dell’s direct-to-customer marketing strategy is not unique, but the extent to which Dell performs this strategy better than anyone else in the industry gives it a competitive advantage. Its size, purchasing power, quality control, and efficiency permit it to operate as a low-cost provider.

Some authors say that Dells business model is successful because they offer ‘dependable support, combined with competitive prices and build to order convenience’ (Lee & Thornhill 2005). However it is argued that Dells success is falling due to a lack of investment in customer service, recently their reputation has been damaged as complaints increase (Gross 2005).

4. How effective have competitors been in responding to the challenge posed by Dell 's advantage? How big is Dell 's advantage?

In this paper, Team C will describe the relationship between strategic planning and financial planning for Dell Corporation. The first section will cover Dell’s strategic planning initiative and identify a strategic initiative discussed in the organization’s annual report; from this report Team C will describe how this initiative affects Dell’s financial planning. Team C will break down and address how Dell’s initiative directly affects costs and the sales of the company’s financial plan. The final section, Team C will describe the risks associated with the initiative and the financial impact that these risks have on the company.

Dell is a computer corporation recognized for manufacturing computer systems through parts assemble. In 1983, Michael Dell saw an opportunity in using IBM compatible computers for a new assembly line that can be sold to local businesses. The idea as explained by Michael Dell, in one of his interview, is that in the early days of computers' manufacturing, companies had to be able to produce every part of the system. As the industry matured, companies started to focus on single parts and to become specialized in creating items that can be assembled with other parts to prepare a computer. As a result, Dell understood that to have a competitive edge in the market, they needed to

Once received, Dell incorporates just-in-time management when manufacturing. Parts for the operating systems arrive “just in the nick of time” while the desktop is being combined. This process in turn would not be possible if Dell did not have a unique relationship with its suppliers. They have excellent supplier co-ordination, almost making their suppliers like partners. Dell do not make the parts for their own computers but work in harmonisation with suppliers, and get suppliers who are located close to the factory

The proposal presented herein gives the background information of Dell Computers Corporation highlighting the current operation for the manufacture of computers. The proposal highlights the potential of the company to increase its market share and profitability through change of its culture from order based to inventory base.

Dell Computer Corporation was founded in 1984 by Michael Dell. From the early 1990s until the mid-2000s, Dell was ranked as a PC market leader relying on their distinctive marketing pattern “Direct Model” which undertook direct communication with customers and provided customized products. Recently, the PC industry is facing inconceivable worldwide competition, and Dell is gradually losing their competitive advantages by using its direct model in critical business segments. The company is facing shrinkage of growth, increasing competition, declining quality of customer service, and limitation of expansion. These issues have an enormous impact on Dell’s position as a technological giant in the PC industry.

• Competition : Apple with propriety architecture had 20% market share, Compac enters in ’82, Dell in ’84,

Dell Company has a successful business strategy. As it is following cost leadership strategy. Its success story is hidden in cost proposition, delivery, and unique customization. In response to the high performance and better chances for growth Dell is applying two way strategy parallel to one another.

In 1997, Steve Jobs returned to Apple as an advisory and with the purposes of reshaping the product line. The changes made by Jobs resulted in increased sales and $309 million in profits. Job changed the mindset of Apples management and development team. He encourage them to have the “think different” management style that promotes the development of products that are ahead of the technology and design curve, and a creative retail strategy. It is this strategy that would eventually make Apple the best-selling company in the PC industry.

Essay 1 : Introduction to Dell 3 Parts - Look at the Business Model in Particular (Is it fit for purpose?) – Then the Ecosystem – The Modularization and mention licensing Look the Paradigm of Dell Conclusion

Both Dell and HP are two strong players in PC industry which refers to an industry where companies produces PCs (desktops and notebooks), handheld devices (smart phones and tablets), and workstations. However, with growing global expansion, Dell and HP’s performance differs. Dell, once the world’s largest PC maker in 2001, has continually lost its market share to HP and Acer since 2007 (Guglielmo 2009). The cause is rooted in two differences of these companies: company diversifications and core competences. Therefore, how firms can continually survive in the PC business is more of an issue for Dell than for HP.

The most important questions facing Dell was – how to grow and at what cost. The purpose of this research is to analyze Dell’s core strategy, its working capital management, and come up with a plan to finance its future growth by evaluating its financial statements.

Compaq and Dell stole IBM’s PC market with the right price and the right message.