Harrison-Keyes

Scenario One Reflection Paper

Introduction

Problem-solving and decision-making are basic components of daily business interactions. When delving into the process of decision-making, today major decision makers within a firm must possess a sound decision-making methodology. Over time, top managers have discovered that traditional decision-making processes may lack vital elements of critical thinking for effective and timely decision-making. Therefore, effective business leaders have adopted increasingly thorough and aggressive approaches to outlining alternatives, evaluating those defined alternatives, defining solutions, and assessing risk associated with the defined solutions. In the following, we will use the Harrison-Keyes scenario to demonstrate an effective method of problem-solving benchmarking. In our evaluation, we will define our research methodology, give a summary of the information researched, and present alternative solutions and a risk assessment of the prescribed solutions.

Research Methodology

The methodology for this research project is as follows:

 Research approach: To facilitate our research efforts we leveraged web research, knowledge from within our organizations, and resources afforded through the University of Phoenix website

 Information required/list of topics: The information researched encompassed ecommerce, outsourcing, and digital rights management. The learning team determined that researching the aforementioned information provided the best opportunity for determining the feasibility of the e-publishing initiative. The primary reasons for choosing the previously defined topics are expressed in the following outline:

o The learning team selected e-commerce as a topic for research because ecommerce is a part of Harrison-Keyes innovative strategy to counter declining sales, market share losses, and decreasing profitability. More importantly, we find that the organization's ecommerce initiative is imperative for achieving globalization and reaching a broader market at reduced cost, thus leading to improved profitability.

o The learning team selected strategic outsourcing and globalization as a topic for research because employing this strategy provides continued cost reduction opportunities in Harrison-Keyes quest to reduce cost and enhance revenue.

o The learning team selected digital rights management as a topic for research because the Company must protect the content of the publications as well as dispel concerns that the authors may have related to pirating of their works.

Summary of Information

In an effort to restore profitability to Harrison-Keyes, the CEO who has a high-tech background plans to implement a new e-book publishing strategy. In this effort to shift the paradigm towards e-publishing, the Harrison-Keys management team is faced with challenges related to the implementation of its strategy. Therefore, the CEO attempts to align senior management and other stakeholders to address the concerns of the Board by benchmarking and gathering information relative to its e-publishing strategy.

E-Commerce

Harrison-Keyes, Inc. lacks the necessary technical expertise in establishing e-commerce solutions so to better communicate with stakeholders globally. In looking outside of the publishing industry, the company may begin understanding the needed ingredients for making e-books a reality. For example, Jones Apparel Group, Inc. is a leading designer, marketer, and wholesaler of branded merchandise who recently adopted direct selling expertise for expanding its global reach over the internet (ProQuest database, 2005). Similarly, ITC, one of India's largest agribusiness companies offers important lessons for any e-business initiative (CIO Magazine, 2002).

"In physical firms, more sales mean more costs: more employees, more machinery, more bricks and mortar. By contrast, each new "Online" sale generates cash up front, but barely raises investment expenses at all (MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, 1999). Accordingly, the publisher can leverage its physical collection of titles and hold down costs, through digitization. In implementing an e-book strategy, the company cannot afford employing leaders without a formal education in technology. The publisher's catalogue of over 22,700 titles in the business, scientific, and technical fields requires "understanding the structure of scientific communication as measured through well-understood bibliometric techniques" (www.nsf.gov, 2005). In addition, the extent to which HK can deliver over the internet not only stems from understanding information technologies but from the company's acceptance of standards. By example, the "American Mathematical Society played an important role in the development of standards along with the National Science foundation" (www.nsf.gov, 2005). Moreover, evidence shows that, "changing behaviors and attitudes toward electronic publications as well as toward peer review, which are necessary in order for e-publications to gain credibility," the publisher can arrange a better partnership with its authors (www.nsf.gov, 2005).

Partnerships can facilitate better communication throughout an organization. For example, The Jones Apparel Group decided to increase its exposure of its corporate website through a partnership with "a direct selling initiative called Million Wishes that will bring accessories into a home selling environment...the goal is to make the business end as user friendly and streamlined as possible, so the consultant can concentrate on sales and education" (ProQuest database, 2005). Similarly, a few years back, an agribusiness called ITC implemented an e-kiosk strategy with farmers in rural India. Technical consultants, called sanchalaks, who operated the kiosk, interpreted data sent from ITC and traded with farmers on spot pricing for their commodities. The result of this direct approach showed, that an e-business initiative can create an online franchise if distribution and collection systems and rapport with intermediaries in the supply chain, are established. As the containment of procurement costs coupled with a quality product means better pricing for the end user, and establishment franchise awareness. More importantly, in overcoming a lack of computing infrastructure the agribusiness created appropriate technology that included a human interface to overcome literacy issues. In overcoming issues of trust, ITC made the sanchalaks take a public oath of office, recognizing that a social contract was more important than a formal contract with farmers. Finally,