2 Assignments

Assignment 1: Discussion—Technology and Strategic/Competitive Position

Apple Inc. is known for its state-of-the-art designs for products such as the iPhone, but most are unaware that Apple has used technology to streamline its supply chain management and operational systems to provide competitive pricing. This use of technology has allowed the company to under price its competitors and yet maintain a 25 percent margin on their products. The use of IT has provided Apple with a strategic and competitive position which most of their competitors find difficult to match or exceed.

Using your company or a real-world example from your research, analyze how information systems affect the firm’s strategic and competitive position.

Using the assigned readings and the Argosy University online library resources, explain how information technology:

• Impacts competitive rivalry, such as pricing, promotion, and distribution
• Enables or dissuades new entrants
• Enables customers to achieve greater bargaining power
• Enables suppliers to gain more bargaining power
• Gives rise to substitute products or services that threaten the existing market

Write your initial response in 300–500 words. Your response should be thorough and address all components of the discussion question in detail, include citations of all sources, where needed, according to the APA Style, and demonstrate accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Assignment 2: Scanners and Xerox

With the advent of scanners and the universality of the portable document format (PDF), the market for optical copiers is shrinking rapidly. Can a company such as Xerox Corporation survive? In this assignment, you will address this question.

Research the issues faced by Xerox from 2000–2010 and the solutions found using the assigned readings, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet. Specifically review the company’s annual report at the following:

• Xerox Corporation http://news.xerox.com/investors/reports

Respond to the following:

• Identify multiple business pressures on Xerox.
• Describe some of the company’s response strategies.
• Identify the role of IT as a contributor to the business technology pressures (for example, obsolescence).
• Identify the role of IT as a facilitator of Xerox’s critical response activities.
• Support your positions with reasons and examples based on your research.

Write a 3–5-page paper in Word format.