Case Study Analysis

Running head: SAMPLE CASE STUDY 1

Ima Student

MGT 450

Sample Case Study: Siebel Systems

Professor Amazing

December 15, 2008

SAMPLE CASE STUDY 2

Sample Case Study: Siebel Systems

Siebel Systems faced several problems at the time of this article.

Primarily, corporate software customers are looking for integrated “suites” of

software applications while Siebel offers only one application—customer

relations management (CRM) software (“Siebel”). To solve this problem and

to regain a corner of the corporate software market, Siebel Systems and its

CEO and owner, Tom Siebel, will have to relinquish the idea of “doing one

thing really well” (Kerstetter, 2003, p. 2). In order to grow and expand, Siebel

Systems needs to diversify software applications and integrate the applications

that corporations seek into one system.

The introduction identifies the central problem.

Thesis statement is located at the end of the introduction.

Indeed, corporate software customers want integrated, user-friendly,

and cost-effective software systems. Applications for financial data, corporate

planning, and human resources (Kerstetter, 2003), as well as what Siebel

currently offers, CRM, are in demand. While Siebel should consider

modifying its software for manageability or even integrating with rival

programs, this is not a long-term solution for the company. Nevertheless,

Siebel Systems will continue to shrink and elicit poor customer satisfaction if

it cannot create, buy, or partner with other software applications. Siebel

should develop a strong suite of software applications quickly before it

exhausts revenues and loses its current clientele.

The background section is made up of important general facts.

As a short-term solution, Siebel Systems should work with IBM and

Microsoft on creating one version of Siebel’s new product line that is

compatible with both platforms, saving the companies the $550 million for

Here, the writer begins to develop the proposed solution.

SAMPLE CASE STUDY 3

two versions that are in the works (Kerstetter, 2003). However, a long-term

solution involves Siebel’s creating, buying, or merging with other software

companies until an integrated, user-friendly suite of applications has been

developed. Once this has been achieved, Siebel Systems must provide

customer service that is geared toward problem avoidance rather than problem

patches and offer upgrade packages that are cost effective, relevant, and easily

implemented.

These modifications should yield a high return on Siebel’s investment.

Although the cost of acquiring additional applications is potentially greater

than the cost of the new product line Siebel Systems is presently considering,

the life of the company will be extended.

Siebel should turn to the companies with whom it is already working

on software integration—Oracle, PeopleSoft, and BMC (Kerstetter, 2003)—to

negotiate a merger or buyout. This would give Siebel leverage to focus on

applications not offered by others but are needed by corporate-software

customers. Moreover, Siebel can recruit interns from top technology schools

to facilitate and help complete the development of this new software

applications suite.

The writer provides recommendations to execute the proposed solution and the rationale behind why they’re beneficial.

There is a substantial risk with Siebel’s inaction and remaining with their

current software offerings. Given the limited integration and narrow

application market, Siebel Systems will continue to lose market share,

revenue, and customers. Immediate action is needed to restore its market

position—in particular, merging with another company or an individual

SAMPLE CASE STUDY 4

provider of other corporate software applications. The ideal merger would

combine CRM software with software for financial data, corporate planning,

and human resource management.

In researching other companies, I found that in 2006, Oracle Corporation

purchased Siebel Systems for $5.8 billion dollars. Siebel now offers all

software applications that e-business and 24-hour customer support require as

part of the larger Oracle Corporation (“Oracle”). Oracle also acquired

PeopleSoft in 2005.

SAMPLE CASE STUDY 5

References

Kerstetter, J. (2003, June 2). Can Siebel stop its slide? Missteps--and

tough rivals--undermine the software giant. BusinessWeek. (3835),

48. Retrieved December 2, 2008, from ProQuest database.

Oracle and Siebel [Announcement]. Retrieved December 2, 2008, from

http://www.oracle.com/siebel/index.html

Siebel [Product information]. Retrieved December 2, 2008, from

www.siebel.com