Digital Enterprise Transformation and Strategic Business Analysis

The objective of this assignment is to delve into the intricacies of digital enterprise transformation within contemporary business settings. By examining key theoretical concepts from sources such as "Managing Digital Enterprise: Ten Essential Topics" by Xu (2014) and "Strategy, not technology, drive...Read More

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Managing Digital Enterprise
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Managing Digital Enterprise
Executive Summary
The below-summarized report has been analyzed on the concept of digital enterprise that is one
of the terms of modern business era. The digital enterprise system is a contemporary means of
executing the business activities in a better and improved way by making adoption of the most
advanced and improved platforms. In the below-presented scenario, Dell is the business
multinational corporation on which the whole analysis is focused. The further report comprises
of the critical evaluation of the use of digital enterprise to the business organization. The report
also consists the identification of the strength and weakness of the concept of digital enterprise.

Managing Digital Enterprise
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Critical discussion and use of digital enterprise..............................................................................3
Critical evaluation and discussion of the use of digital enterprise..................................................6
Improvement of the participation of digital enterprise....................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................11

Managing Digital Enterprise
Introduction
Business organizations making use of technology as a competitive advantage in the execution of
the internal and external operations can be referred as a digital enterprise. Due to the concept of
information technology, the level of digital enterprise has gained a boost and also has found new
significance. The term digital enterprise management has been concerned with the set of IT
solutions that have been developed and designed for managing and making the execution of
business with a greater speed, seamlessly and in an optimized manner (Laudon and Laudon,
2015). In simpler terms, the concept of digital enterprise management can be described as a
mindset around the process of application of technologies and information for increasing the
speed of the decision making process in an organization. This process also involves pushing thee
decisions towards the teammates and in order to make the movement of the organization faster
and also innovate quickness. Digital enterprise is one of the forms of contemporary business.
Moreover, a truly digital enterprise will make integration of data, information, processes, work
and people and individuals so that the collaboration of the entire working organization is made
possible in an efficient and effective manner (Brain 2018). The concept of digital business is a
contemporary form of business style and at the heart of the digital business is the technology.
The below-executed analysis is the summarized version of the digital business of Dell. The
business corporation is a manufacturing multinational firm that is engaged in the selling,
manufacturing, repairing and supporting personal computers, servers, data storage devices etc
(Dell 2018).
Critical discussion and use of digital enterprise
The Internet has been considered as a revolutionary concept that has changed the way of doing
business and also the business entities can make use of this technological concept in various
contexts (Bryman and Bell, 2015). The term e-business is the process of exchange of information
by making use of internet and execution of other business can also be executed. As Dell is one of
the multinational firms, there are various operations and functionalities executed within the
organizational structure. And for the smooth execution of these operations, the business entity
can make use of digital enterprise. The below described is the use of e-business for Dell:

Managing Digital Enterprise
While interacting with the clients or suppliers by using the digital solutions, the business entity
faces difficulties in describing the size of the business. And for which the business corporation
should maintain a website that will make the firm look impressive (Oswald and Kleinemeier,
2017). Dell has an official website that has been designed and developed as per the convenience
of the consumers. This online portal enables the consumers and viewers with the varied range of
data such as a history of the company, the mission and vision statement, the products and the
services offered by the business firm etc. This aids the consumers in obtaining the required
details and an attractively designed website attracts a large number of viewers (Goldratt, 2017).
Thus the digital enterprise will aid the entity in attaining new opportunities.
The below presented is the social media journey of Dell:
Figure 1Dell's social media journey
(Source: Social networking systems of Dell, 2018)
One of the biggest example through which social networking systems of Dell and social
engagement of the business can be described is the Idea storm and storm sessions. These sessions
were launched in by the business entity is 2007 for providing customers with avenue for sharing
the ideas on products, services and operations (Dave 2011). This included:
 60,000 plus user accounts
 18,000 ideas
 97,000 comments

Managing Digital Enterprise
 7,38,900 votes
 520 ideas implemented
Various contemporary means and options are offered by e-business platform. And one of the
biggest option or aid offered by this platform is while making orders. While making use of
internet, order edge that is bowed into the real-time recording system will allow the customers to
make the order for the products for the official website or the online portal 24/7. By making use
of this mechanism Dell will be making reductions in the number of expenses such as they will be
saving the money spent on hiring sales staff (Ferraro and Briody, 2017). The firm can open an
order entry section on the official website for the clients and the customer’s that are interested in
making smaller orders. And this will also enable the sales staff to focus their efforts on
generating additional business and thus attracting new customers.
The concept of the digital enterprise also aids the business entity in saving the expenses incurred
on providing after sales services to the customers. By making the data and information of the
client available on the site and that to with security, the customers will be enabled in checking
their accounts whenever required by them (Khurana 2017). On the basis of the research, it has
been observed that Dell is already having a special category or section that is customer service
section that has been designed for the customers for their feedbacks, customer queries, problems
and complaints if any (Austin 2001). The business entity can make modifications for increasing
the quality of services offered by making use of digital enterprise.
Marketing is one of the integral functions to be executed by the business corporation for
promoting the products and services in order to stimulate and attract the customers. On the basis
of the research, it has been observed that internet has been observed to be one of the largest used
platforms for purchasing the products and services (Dell 2016). And hence the business entities
can make use of internet or digital enterprise for promoting the products and attracting the
customers and thus enhancing the customer base. Dell is already making use of the internet for
marketing the products and hence should make use of advanced and contemporary means of
marketing solutions for the same.
One of the biggest factors in a successful business is making the products available at the right
place in right time (Uhl and Gollenia, 2016). Many business organizations face problems such as

Managing Digital Enterprise
lack of proper inventory management systems, lack of maintaining stock etc. The Internet is the
platform that has developed its reach all over the globe and spans all time zones. In simpler
terms, this means that when the business entity is executing the business through online means,
they have the same capabilities. In case of physical stores, the range of the customers can be
limited in terms of the location and also the operating or working hours (Dell 2018). The access
to the e-business is granted from anywhere and by having the access to the internet and also the
working or the operating hours is also for 24 hours. Furthermore, with web-based business on the
ascent, e-business has yet another preferred standpoint: being open to anybody with a cell phone.
Dell is making the use of internet services for getting connected and also for listening, learning
and engaging themselves with the customers and the clients. This increases the brand image and
equity amongst the firm, the process of marketing and attracting the customers also gets much
easier (Sturm, Pollard and Craig, 2017). It has been noted that the business entity has the best
customers as they are found to have the best ideas and insights. Dell is operating its official
website by the name of and the site has been considered as one of the biggest platforms for the
organization through which the entity is offering the products and services to the large customer
base (Dell 2018). This platform has been proven very much successful for the business firm in
attracting a large pool of customer’s through international markets (Tan 2018). Moreover, social
media is the medium through which the enmity in developing connections and bonds with their
customers. The business organization offers their customers various opportunities in getting
involved in the business operations. For instance, the customers can take part in the
conversations about Dell EMC every day. This enables the business firm in learning about the
thoughts and requirements of the customers and aids further in the advancing and designing the
offerings as per the requirements of the consumers and thus delivering a quality product. This
will make the business firm a better partner for the customers.
The concept of digital enterprise has been considered as a helping hand for the business
corporation. Dell is managing and maintaining various operations and functionalities through the
online portal and the official website (Bryman and Bell, 2015). The entity has developed various
sections and segments over the website for the convenience of the customers. The digital
enterprise aids the entity in the number of operations executed within the entity. For instance, the
e-business systems aid the business firm in marketing and promoting the products by making use

Managing Digital Enterprise
of social media and thus reaching and attracting the huge pool of customers at a time. This will
aid Dell in bringing an increase in the customer base and market share will also be increased.
The business entity will also be bringing minimization to the number of expenses incurred in
various operations and functions (Xu, 2014). Various expenses associated with the operations
will be minimized such as rent, electricity; telephone is some of the general expenses that are
incurred by the physical locations and the outlets of the brand. By taking the business to online
platforms the entity will eliminate these expenses and overheads and also the efforts utilized on
these expenses and operations will be diverted to some other practices. This will bring an
increase in the efficiency and also the productivity will be increased (Wheelen et al., 2017). The
digital enterprise system offers the entity with various mediums of communications internally.
The business firm has developed the number of communication methods that aid the entity in
developing a communication level between the workforce within the organizational structure
such as video conferencing with the clients and carrying out meetings with the clients and
business partners that are away or to another corner of the world.
Critical evaluation and discussion of the use of digital enterprise
The norms and the business practices are the basic obligations that are required to be adhered by
the business corporations for minimizing the interference of the governing authorities (Turban et
al., 2017). Minimum governing interferences will enable the business corporation to execute
smooth flow of business practices and operations. This will enable the business entity to deliver
the best quality of products and services as the smooth flow of operations will enable the entity
to divert the focus towards the business instead of coping-up with the norms and business
practices (Bordwell, Thompson and Smith, 2016). On the basis of the research it has been
analyzed that Dell has been ranked and named as the world's most ethical business organization
by Ethisphere Institute (customers.microsoft 2014). And the below mentioned are the recognized
attainments for the third consecutive year:
 Core value of Dell of winning integrity
 The business entity is concentrating on the continuous accountability throughout all the
hierarchical levels of the business corporation

Managing Digital Enterprise
 Moreover, the business corporation has high ethical standards and commitment to
executing and conducting business in the context and favor of customers, suppliers and
business partners (Schermerhorn et al., 2014).
On the basis of the announcement made by Dell, it has been noted that the business corporation
has been recognized by Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the
standards of ethical business operations as a 2016, World’s most ethical business entity. Dell has
been documented for three consecutive years. Dell is one of only four business corporations in
the category of technology underscoring their commitment to leading ethical business operations
and standards (Murphy, 2017). The personal adopted by Dell is “Doing the right thing and thus
attaining right way. And this statement has been stated by Michael McLaughlin, Dell's chief
ethics, and compliance officer. The business entity has also been taking the role of corporate
citizen seriously from the leadership structure adopted, governance practices executed and the
environmental efforts and the engagement of the workforce in the managerial activities.
Moreover the business entity can make use of several digital KPI’S for measuring the
performance and level of success.
The digital KPI’s are the measurable values that can be adopted by Dell for evaluating the
performance of digital business initiatives (Boulton 2017). The below mentioned are some of the
practices that can be implemented for measuring the overall success:
 Work with superior authorities
 Setting KPI and objectives
 Monitoring and measuring the
The below mentioned are the strength and weakness of e-business for Dell:
Strengths
 One of the biggest strength of the concept of digital enterprise is that it is boundary-less
and works on global location.
 The operations and functionalities executed through the online platform are that they are
less time to consuming as compared to the operations that are executed physically.
 And also there are no time limitations (Dunning, 2014)

Managing Digital Enterprise
 The concept of a digital enterprise will be proven cost-effective for Dell as the expenses
incurred are less as compared to the physically located business.
 The information and the required data by customers and the clients are made easily
available.
 Moreover, the products are also easily sorted and proper arrangement is done.
 The process is easy and that makes a faster transaction and increases customer
satisfaction.
 Interaction with the customers is also made very much easy.
Weakness
 Any of the internet users can get access to the data or any of the information. This
develops a risk of security and that will decline the interest of the customers in the brand.
 Moreover, there is risk of fraud and fake websites. As developing and designing fake
websites is the very easy task and the customers should be aware of it (Kane et al., 2015).
 The business entity will be having less involvement with the clients and the customers
and that can also decline the goodwill and brand equity.
 There are fewer chances of offers and discounts and moreover, bargaining is also not
possible.
 The delivery of the products is also of long durations (Dell 2018).
 Due to the lack of the interaction with the customer the level of customer satisfaction is
very less. As no interaction minimizes the scope of the convincing the customers
(Stäbler, 2016). Many times customers prefer to buy the product by reaching personally
to the market rather than purchasing through the internet.
On the basis of the above-mentioned analysis and executed research it has been noted that Dell
has been perceived by Ethisphere Institute, a worldwide pioneer in characterizing and propelling
the principles of moral business operations as a 2016, World's most moral business entity. Dell
has been reported for three successive years (Dell 2016). Dell is one of just four business
organizations in the class of innovation underscoring their sense of duty regarding driving moral
business operations and gauges. The individual received by Dell is "Making the best decision
and along these lines achieving right way. Furthermore, this announcement has been expressed
by Michael McLaughlin, Dell's main morals, and consistency officer.

Managing Digital Enterprise
Improvement of the participation of digital enterprise
The below mentioned are some of the provisions that can be adopted by Dell for bringing
improvements and advancements in the e-business system within the organizational structure. It
has been considered the concept of Digital strategy is fundamental to business strategy in the
modern era (Fleisher and Bensoussan, 2015). It has lo been observed that 90 % of the digital
leaders have a high level of integration in a digital strategic-planning process (Mckinsey 2015).
The best digital strategies are not made dependent on the past analysis, but instead, require a
fresh start and pare out a vision based on where the business entity believe value is likely to
switch over the next coming duration. They assess at a gritty level where a value is likely to be
disrupted within their own business and market, and they isolate where and how they will
compete (Bohari, Hin, and Fuad, 2017). When the business entity is capable of exploiting
significant opportunities and the effective digital strategies are given importance to a handful of
interferences where the business can exploit, and then develop a digitally enabled business model
around them. And this will enable the business firm in developing a new track for the customers
while making the purchase of the products, switching to new businesses, or exploitation of
competitive advantages such as exclusive data in new ways (Nof et al., 2015).
On the basis of the research, it has been executed that another option that can bring
advancements and improvements in the digital enterprise system adopted by Dell is bringing
process automation (Malhotra, 2014). The concept of business-process automation develops
outcomes in the form of the massive competitive advantage because as at the time of making the
initial investments, and well implementation of the same, can scale speedily without extensive
additional expenses. It has been estimated that as the time passes there will be improvements in
the cost performance by as much as 90 percent as the automation effort scales across formerly
siloed operations, bringing minimization in the dismissed processes (Hiles and Hon, 2016). It has
also been observed that various new business models, in fact, are emerging as the business
entities that are generating revenue from sales of physical assets evolve into service businesses
that focus on data as an asset (El-Sheikh, Zimmermann and Jain, 2016). Digitizing processes has
less to do with technology and more with how companies approach development. These are
considered as the building blocks for the process of the bringing improvements in the concept of
digital enterprise (Cavusgil et al., 2014).

Managing Digital Enterprise
Conclusion
In the limelight of the above-executed analysis, it has been inferred that Digital enterprise has
been considered as one of the revolutionary systems that enable the business entity in managing
the business operations and all the functionalities. The above analysis it has also been analyzed
that Dell is one of the brand names that is operating the business under the e-business system.
The analysis is focused on the critical evaluation of the concept digital enterprise and also the
benefits that will be attained by the business corporation.

Managing Digital Enterprise
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Managing Digital Enterprise
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Managing Digital Enterprise
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