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Key elements of a successful business
Key elements of a successful business
Key elements of a successful business
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Business Process Analysis and Measurement Paper
Within the successful planning and execution of every prominent business today is the underlying factor of operational management. Although in the early terms most companies that focused on this area were manufacturing companies, this innovative idea has struck cords into service and retail. From creating software to computers Dell has risen in the last 20 plus years to become one of the worlds leading technological innovators. In 2006 Dell achieved a pivotal goal and was named on the list of the Fortune 500 a coveted seat among all businesses.
How does Dell achieve such staying power? “Direct relationships with our customers give us an advantage of seeing changing customer requirements and needs earlier than companies who do not have the same breadth of direct relationships” (Dell, 2009). Customer satisfaction is just one of the many areas Dell focuses on; from developing new and effective processes to extensive performance measurements Dell strives to excel in every field.
Four Processes
In the year of 1994 Dell was a struggling PC maker like all the other PC makers. Dell ordered components in advance and carried a large amount of component inventory; it was then when Dell started to invent a new business model (Byrnes, 2003). The new business model circumvented the idea of build-to-order process with direct sales to customers. This change drew in a large sum of cash that dell used to fuel the growth of the company. Today in Dell’s daily business the organization uses multiple processes to perform to the best daily. Account selection is a process that Dell implemented deliberately to select customers with relatively conventional purchasing patterns and low service costs.
The demand management process that Dell incorporated into its daily business cycle was the motto “Sell what you have.” Dell developed this motto for the critical function of matching inward bound demand to forecast the supply. Another important daily business process that Dell incorporated into the business is the product lifecycle management. Since Dell’s customers were largely high-end replicated buyers that were sympathetic towards new technology, Dell’s marketing focused on product managing product lifecycle transitions.
The supplier management is also a key component in the daily business process for Dell. Dell’s manufacturing systems featured multiple combinations of build-product-to-order and buy components to plan processes.
Operations Management Process is the central arteries within the organization because it produces the planning process for goods and services, which are its reason for existent. Operations management is linked to all organizations as every organization is producing either a product or a service. However, it cannot be said to be the most important function since there are other functional areas and boundaries within an organization. In today's fast changing world, organizations have to have a tendency towards being efficient, effective and innovative to the changing environment to succeed. Operations Management has to use metrics in order for them to accomplish their task and be successful with minimal interruptions within the organization.
This concept created the big change that causes the competitive advantage. Dell eliminated reseller 's markup and the expenses and the risks associated with conveying huge amount of inventories. This could not have happened without many other action that Dell has taken into consideration. So, other companies had to had to create all the components themselves. Indeed, all the various pieces of the industry had to be vertically integrated within one firm. These companies needed to manufacture enormous structures to create everything a PC required. They had no real option except to end up being expert in a wide array of components, some of which had nothing to do with creating value for the client. On the other hand, Dell has a different approach that they establish a partnership with different companies to help them produce their products. So, they have fewer things to manage, fewer things to go wrong, which enabled them to manage their inventories. As a result, this model the direct model has allowed Dell to leverage their relationships with both suppliers and customers, which helped them to build a much larger firm in no
...e will be self-designed and computer generated, of course. Fulfillment of services will be provided exclusively by CCC's owner. Technology is obviously a critical component of this business: It will be important to stay up to date on both equipment and knowledge to remain competitive in th? future. Bibliography Crayton, Harrison. Michael Dell steps aside as CEO of Dell Inc.: Dallas Morning News, Th? (TX), 03/04/2004; (AN W73230395460) pp 2Caroline, Humer. Dell Inc. reports 24% gain in fourth-quarter net profit By: Toronto Star (Canada), 02/13/2004; (AN 6FP2158689500). Pp 3McWilliams, Gary. Dell Inc. Installs Security Chip In Business PCs. By: Wall Street Journal - Eastern Edition, 2/2/2005, Vol. 245 Issue 23; (AN 15943600) , p D4Caroline, Humer. Dell Inc. reports 24% gain in fourth-quarter net profit By: Toronto Star (Canada), 02/13/2004; (AN 6FP2158689500). Pp 5
Dell had to solve the problem of balancing the production of laptops, desktops and servers. On the laptop market, which Dell was committed to re-enter due to its growing customer base, there were a number of technological problems. Dell had hired John Medica, lead developer of Apple computer’s Powerbook line, and according to him, only one of the laptops being developed would be able to compete on the market. However, it would take some time before it was fully developed, so Dell had to reject their customer’s demand for laptops. In doing so, Dell made the customers understand that it would not take forever. Dell’s way to approach the fact that the company was not able to fulfil the customers wishes, was through honesty. The question was whether this strategy was an advantage for Dell or not.
Dell's strengths were oriented around listening to the customers, responding to the customers, and delivering what the customer wanted. The direct relationship was first through telephone calls, then through face-to-face interactions, and now through the internet. It has enabled them to benefit from real-time input from real customers regarding products and future products they would like to see developed. The company also doesn't use reseller or retail channels because every computer is built-to-order, which allows less inventory. The direct model allows them to take the pulse of whatever market and provide the right technology for the right customers.
Speaking about the business model of Dell, it has ability to remain on the higher end of the scale for a particular time period. Dell has business model, which primarily focuses on direct selling line of attack. It in a straight line supplies the PCs to the regulars. It does not believe in intermediary, retailers for the business practices. Undeniably, this gives them an edge to serve customer well. Nevertheless, it understood the importance of retailers and start offering products on the premises of retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and so on. Next, Dell administration is certain of the exclusive business of PCs. As time goes on, however, observing the
Dell combined packaged applications from Microsoft and others with its homegrown software. That will help Dell integrate its planning and manufacturing systems with those of suppliers and create a free information flow within their respective core systems.
Dell Inc. has realized that the most efficient path to the customer is through a direct relationship, with no intermediaries to add confusion and cost. With the power of their direct model and their team of talented people, they are able to provide to their customers high-quality, relevant technology, customized systems, superior service and support and products and services that are easy to buy and use.
Operations management strategies play an important role in any organization to achieve organizational goals. An organization uses these operations strategies to maintain and control all its operations...
Dell made the bold decision in 1994 to eliminate their products from retail stores and focused on mail order customers. In 1996 Dell began selling through their website as well. By eliminating the retail store presence Dell was able to reduce costs, reduce inventory, and maximize profit. Dell utilized a built to order system that allowed customers to specify exactly what they did and did not want on their Dell computer. Dell's just in time inventory system lowered inventory to 6 days and storage costs were saved.
Dell’s initial competitive strategy, when it was founded in 1984 by Michael Dell, was to focus mainly on differentiation. Its strategy was to sell customised personal computer systems directly to customers, which was a rapidly emerging market at that time (1). This was done by targeting second-time customers, those that already understand computers and know what they wanted. Meanwhile other companies at the time was selling “’plain brown wrapper’ computers” (2). By offering customisations, Dell gained a better understanding of customers’ needs and wants. This helped the organisation position itself differently against the more popular brands, such as Compaq and IBM.
Dell has three distinctive capabilities which consist of: 1) selling products directly to consumer’s which eliminates the markups of resellers 2) build products as they are order, which eliminates overstocked products and 3) having the ability to respond quickly to customers who experience problems with their products.
According to Michael Cannon, Dell's President of Global Operations, the key differentiators that have made Dell so effective for nearly two decades are its made to order direct sales model and its innovative supply chain (SCN, 2008).
In every organization, different operational functions exist to ensure the smooth learning of the organization. In order for an individual to have the knowhow on how to operate the functions delegated to them they must have implicit knowledge on the functionalities themselves. Understanding markets, customers and the company goals has always proven to be a core starting point for individuals who ply their trade in the organization. The essence of the skills is evident in globalization, cooperate social responsibility and risk management issues. In operations management, the basic principles of operations should be followed to ensure that the profitability of the organization ensures the operation of the organization is
University of Phoenix(Ed.).(2003) Operations management for competitive advantage[University of Phoenix custom edition e-text]. New York: McGraw-Hill. Retrieved February 01, 2005, from university of phoenix, Resource, MGT554- operations management website: https://mycampus.phoenix.edu/secure/resource/resource.asp