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Hewlett-Packard (HP) Business Strategy Report
Hewlett-Packard (HP) Business Strategy Report
Hewlett-Packard (HP) Business Strategy Report
underline the growth of the company over the years as well as the strategic
split itself into two new companies. For the split-off strategy, HP implemented
many strategies in different aspects for preparation. The paper has deeply
evaluated the strategy HP is using, specially the spilt-off strategy, based on the
performance and result of the strategies. The paper has also developed
feasible plans for the business based on internal and external environment
Content
The report is divided into three parts, which are Strategic Analysis, Strategic
and external analysis has been done to look for market opportunities which
made for HP which included the risks and controls of the strategies.
take the risks of split-off, restructure itself with improving brand name and
2005). The major product lines that company offers include industry and
company also provides consulting services and is the largest vendor of PCs in
range of products. PCs, Tablets, and Desktops are the commonly being used
dominate the industry include Dell, HP, Apple, Gateway, and Sony. Moreover,
various forces are driving competitiveness in this industry. These include new
(Chowdhury 2003). However, the global personal computer sales have been
tablets had hurt PC sales, the inexpensive tablets have become the priority
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choice of computing device for many people, especially in emerging
“To view change in market as an opportunity to grow, to use our profits and our
ability to develop and produce innovative products, services and solutions that
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1.3.2 HP MISSION STATEMENT
“To provide product, services and solutions of highest quality and delver more
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1.4 External and Internal Environment
The following is the PESTEL Analysis for HP, a full PESTEL analysis is
available at Appendix 1.
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1.4.2 SWOT Analysis
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threats
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1.4.3 VRIN analysis
Threat of Entry
There are low threats in the technology industry because of the diverse
obstacles facing new market entrants. The companies in this industry have
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well established brand names, posing challenges for firms that try to penetrate
the marketplace. Any firm wishing to emerge successful in the market should
overcome successful brands such as IBM, Dell, HP, and Sony. Moreover, the
firm would be required to invest significant amount of capital, which is hard for
Threat of Substitutes
in the laptop, desktop, and tablet market. The major substitute products for HP
include those made by Dell, IBM, Sony, and Apple. Moreover, a number of
smartphone makers such as Samsung, and Apple also pose significant threat
in the tablet market. In this case, HP has to remain innovative in its operations
for it to sustain its competitiveness in the marketplace (House and Price 2009).
Power of Buyers
case of computers, tablets and desktops in the case of HP, buyers have
consumers to switch from one product supplier to the other based on the
Power of Suppliers
Intel is the main supplier of processors for tablets, notebooks, and desktops. It
provides to a broad range of companies, including Dell, IBM, HP, and Sony
when trying to design these technical products. As such, HP and its rivals
develop heavy reliance on these companies to supply them with these kinds of
2005).
Competitive Rivalry
similar products. In the case of HP and its rivals, most of the products they
offer are similar. The major firms that compete against HP include Nokia,
Google, Sony, Apple, Dell, and IBM. All these companies have well established
effectively with the other established brands in the technology industry (Gibson
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1.5 Basis of Competition
introduction of new product, fast technology movement, short product life cycle
(Tech-Tamer.com, 2013)
There are several key success factors in computing industry. The three main
KSFs are the reliability of technology, after sale service and new innovative
features. The other KSFs are low cost, best quality, good product features,
market shares.
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2.0 Strategic Development
service to individual consumer, small and medium business (SMBs), and large
HP tries hard to reduce cost for the personal computing and printing business
aggressive price competition for our product and, as a result, we may have to
decrease their cost structure, like consolidating supply chain functions and
changing from six sales teams to three, while reducing functional support
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For the product and pricing strategy, HP has been focused on developing more
market (cause by the growth of table market). Using a low price strategy to
compete with those growing brands like SamSung, Apple and Lenovo.
focused on developing new business model like Ink Advantage, the Ink Office
service in the public service aspects including the photo printing service in
computing, security, and big data to the company's Moonshot server system,
Business as for innovating and developing it. HP decided to split Silicon Valley
icon HP into two different companies with one focus on the Enterprise and
Services Business (Detailed see part 2.1.2). “Aiming to grow over the long
term both revenue and market share in the key areas of networking, storage
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and cloud, while increasing revenue from HP’s industry-leading x86 server
business”, said Dave Donatelli, the executive vice president and general
manager of HP. Today, HP’s Software is the No. 1 and No. 2 leadership
positions in key segments within the enterprise software market with serveing
almost the entire Fortune 100, which is expected to grow to a $54 billion
HP Split Off
HP decided to split into two firms, one selling personal computers and printer
and another selling servers and other business equipment and services. The
current CEO Meg Whitman. The computer and printer focused business will be
named HP Inc and led by Dion Weisler, the currently executive vice president
operations. (The Economist, 2014) On the other hand, “The PC business is still
headed down and the market is still contracting” said Whiteman. HP wants to
separate the Printing and Personal System Group (PPS) and the Enterprise
and Services Business which can help HP to restructure and reallocate the
For getting ready to this split off action, HP has implemented a five-year
turnaround plan. The significant points of the plan are labors lay-off and great
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management level changing arrangement. HP launched “Voluntary Early
to split into two companies in the future, the management force has to be
reallocated to both of the new firms. For example, Dion Weisler is going to lead
HP. Inc and will be separated from Hewlett-Packard Enterprise. Whitman said
the turnaround plan can help to create greater efficiency in supply chain,
those acquisitions will be “very judicious, very deliberate, make sure they are
very strategic, and that we don't pay too much for these acquisitions.” HP
further the strategic position in the marketplace for HP. (CNBC, 2013)
HP use many distribution method to sell its product and service, including
third-party resellers and distributors, and both direct and indirect sales to
Manage distributors
market, which can helps HP to reduce risk and gain market experience.
2.1.3.2 Marketing
(MRM) tools. There were 86 different marketing departments, each with own
Partner Engagement
activities.
HP has integrated into several social media channel. Lara O’Reilly, a writer on
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2.1.3.3 Research and Development
reduced the cost-structure in many aspects like cut another 5000 jobs and
pledged to invest the money saved from the lower headcount into research
industries.
HP concluded that the growth of server, software and cloud technology can be
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Choosing logistic companies which treat security seriously, is capable to
to prepare itself for breaking-up its business. One part of the plan is to cut cost
the value chain to minimize cost in different function. HP is also simplifying the
leadership strategy is not the best strategy for HP as reducing cost means
launching new technology to keep market share and awareness, with adding
HP can differentiate its PC product with combining HP’s server and software.
Make it more efficient and user-friendly for HP PC product to link with HP’s
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server and software. Act like Apple Inc, Apple store and IOS can only be used
by Apple product.
HP can also use the Focus Strategy (Porter’s Generic Strategies). Mainly
targeting public sectors and education customer with improving the linking
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Specialist-leaded R&D strategy
Hire well-known specialist to lead the project can bring a better success. With
lots of resources investing in, innovating new technology frequently can help
Acquisition Strategy
Many economy analysts evaluated the split off of HP is a bad business strategy.
The breakup strategy would reduce the Economies of Scale of HP, which
purchasing component. The brand name may also be affected and reduce the
increase HP productivity and working efficiency. This strategy can replace the
separately.
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Acquisition strategy
Split HP with highly degree of acquisition to maintain the brand name in both
new companies, as for keeping the Economic of scale and the market shares
in different business.
Selling one of the HP businesses outwards after split-off, and focusing the
remain business, with lots of capital and resource support, the remaining
business be strong enough in short period with high investment on R&D and
essential acquisition.
HP sells its computing and printing products thought third-party resellers and
distributors, which increase the cost for selling and reduce the profit earned
distribution channels.
HP can open its own brand store in high sales region based on the worldwide
sales report. Act like Apple store, selling own brand products with less cost and
higher revenue.
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Single reseller strategy (Emerging market)
When HP entre emerging market, HP can try to use single reseller strategy to
2.2.3.2 Marketing
Although HP’s brand name is still strong, many brands are still promoting
themselves when they have a strong brand name, like Apple, Samsung and
Lenovo.
HP.
to cut employee and transfer the capital into investment, it is shown from the
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Product/Service differentiation strategy
Using differentiation strategy for the whole company aiming develops some
with other brands to share the huge R&D investment, and the outcome can be
third-party distributors would raise the logistic cost and logistic risk for HP.
Develop own logistic team and warehouse in the worldwide to reduce the
needless logistic cost. It can also reduce risk in the logistic process.
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2.3 Evaluation and ranking of options
Each strategic option in business stream level is evaluated and ranked with
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2.3.2 Corporative level
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2.3.3 Operative Level
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2.4 Chosen Strategic
It is believed that PC market is still the major market for technology industry.
differentiate both its PC and tablets, bring in new technology and re-attract
customer.
one of the market leader at present in the industry. To maintain its competitive
scale and increased cost-structure. HP should reduce the risk and use other
way to achieve its goals. Corporate restructure and reorganization can help HP
to simplify the structure, which can help to increase capability for HP to focus
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2.4.3 Operative level
Todays, brand is the first factor for most people to buy a computing product.
be valuable for HP. Direct selling product to customer can also increase HP
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3.0 Implementation
R&D. For the capital source, HP can allocate from business internal or the
bank, if it is hard for HP to meet the budget objective, HP can cooperate with
other brands to develop R&D (Detail see 2.2.3.3). Employ profession to lead
the R&D can speed-up the process. The specialist can be employed through
HP can find some profession research company to conduct the research for it,
should include several aspects like TV ad., events, social media marketing and
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so on. The large campaign can be more effective for HP to rebuild its brand
name.
their sales report, choose the best places to implement the strategy. HP must
5-10 places for testing market, after achieving some objectives, choose 10
3.2 Timetable
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3.3 Addressing and Controlling Risk
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Reference
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Jean V, M (2004) HP's Logistics Strategy: Simplify, Standardize and Optimize
[Online]http://www.supplychainbrain.com/content/industry-verticals/high-techel
ectronics/single-article-page/article/hps-logistics-strategy-simplify-standardize-
and-optimize/ [Accessed: 10/12/2014]
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