only for the grAde

Co[[aboration Exercise 5 105

Activity 90 Business process 90 Business process management gl Competitivestrategy 85 Cost 90

Five forces model Linkages 90 Margin BB Primary activities Repository 90

B4

BB

Support activities BB Switching costs 95 Value BB Value chain 88

MyMlSLab Go to mymislab.com to complete the problems marked with this icon $.

3-f . Apply the value chain model to a mail-order company such as L.L.Bean (www.llbean.com). lVhatis its competitive strat- egy? Describe the tasks L.L.Bean must accomplish for each of the primary value chain activities. How does L.L.Bean,s ,\ ^ ^ competitive strategyand the nature of its business influence l.t '-"' the general characteristics of its information systems?

3-2. Suppose you decide to start a business that recruits stu- dents for summer jobs. You will match available students with available jobs. You need to learn what positions are available and what students are available for filling those positions. In starting your business, you know you will be competing with local newspapers, Craigslist (www .craigslist.org), and your college. you will probably have other local competitors as well. a. Analyze the structure of this industry according to

Porter's five forces model. b. Given your analysis in part a, recommend a competi-

tive strategy. c. Describe the primary value chain activities as they

apply to this business. d. Describe a business process for recruiting students. e. Describe information systems that could be used to

support the busihess process in part d.

f. Explain how the process you describe in part d and the system you describe in part e reflect your competi- tive strategy.

Considerthe two differentbike rental companies inFigure 3-10. Think about the bikes that they rent. Clearly, the student bikes will be just about anlthing that can be ridden out ofthe shop. The bikes for the business execu- tives, howeve4 must be new, shiny, clean, and in tip-top shape.

Compare and contrast the operations value chains of these two businesses as theypertain to the management of bicycles.

Describe a businesJprocess for maintaining bicycles for both businesses. Describe a business process for acquiring bicycles for both businesses. Describe a business process for disposing of bicycles for both businesses. \Mhat roles do you see for information systems in your answers to the earlier questions? The information sys- tems can be those you develop within your company or.they can be those developed by others, such as Craigslist.

b.

d.

Using the collaboration IS you built in Chapter 2 (pages 73-74), collaborate with a group of students to answer thefol- lowing questions.

Singing Valley Resort is a top-end 50-unit resort located high in the Colorado mountains. Rooms rent for $400 to $4,500 per night, depending on the season and the type of

accommodations. Singing Valley's clientele are well-to-do; many are famous entertainers, sports figures, and business executives. They are accustomed to, and demand, superior seryice.

Singrng Valley resides in a gorgeous mountain valley and is situated a few hundred yards from a serene mountain lake. It