MAN302 Strategic Management: Technology & PwC's Value Chain

This report examines the role of technology in PwC's strategic management, focusing on its impact on the value chain. It highlights how technological advancements, particularly disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, big data, automation, machine learning, and blockchain, have transformed the professional services industry. The report discusses how these technologies have improved PwC's operational efficiency, innovation, and client service delivery. It also explores how PwC can become an exponential organization through outsourcing, collaboration, algorithms, asset optimization, and real-time management systems. Furthermore, the report assesses PwC's current business model and its ability to survive in the next five years, emphasizing the importance of talent development, knowledge creation, client needs assessment, and technological solutions. The conclusion underscores the vital role of technology adoption in achieving market success and maintaining a competitive edge, as demonstrated by PwC's strategic implementation of disruptive technologies.

Running head: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
Strategic Management
NAME OF STUDENT:
NAME OF COLLEGE:
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Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Discussion........................................................................................................................................3
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................6
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Introduction
The implementation of technological advancements in value chain helps an organization to
sustain increased level of competition in market and remain competitive. An organization must
focus on adopting disruptive technologies in their daily operations otherwise they tend to get
disrupted by those technologies. This report focuses on role of technology on effectiveness of
value chain of PwC and role of disruptive technologies on effectiveness of operations at PwC.
Discussion
The technologically factor has specifically supported value chain of company as with
implementation of new technological advancements, PwC have been able to improve their
operations and also have been able to stay ahead of the competition in market. As stated by Story
(2016) implementation of new technologies has enabled PwC to improve their organizational
efficiencies and offer more innovative solutions to their clients across globe. According to
Fatorachian, Shahidan and Kazemi (2013) as customers of PwC are becoming more and more
dependent on technology for increasing effectiveness of their solutions, therefore PwC have
made significant investments in future technologies such as block chain in order to increase
effectiveness of value chain by providing fast, quality and agile products and solutions to their
clients.
The technologies which have disrupted professional services industry, to which PwC belongs,
are as follows:
Artificial intelligence- Artificial Intelligence has disrupted professional sector as implementation
of AI has enabled service sector to innovation and in differentiating their product and service
offerings.
Big data- Big Data is slowly and steadily transforming into disruptor in professional services
industry as big data helps in providing with valuable data inputs regarding market and its trends
which helps in designing offerings of service sector.
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Automation- Automation and robotics are also acting as major disruptors in professional services
sector as most of the automation which is taking place is based on robotic process automation
which can contribute to reducing costs and saving of time and resources.
Machine learning-As opined by Hahn, Jensen and Tanev (2014) machine learning is also acting
as disruptor in professional service sector as increasing popularity of machine learning has led to
effective optimization of resources across markets of services firm which has helped them in
providing higher level of service to their clients.
Block chain and Crypto currency- Block chain and crypto currency are acting as major disruptors
in professional service sector as they have potential of improving several processes within
service sector such as cross border payment.
The above mentioned technologies have impacted professional services and organizations such
as PwC as technological advancements have become substitute and complement for specific
professional services and their impact have been more dramatic in nature than anticipated earlier.
As opined by Montgomery, Squires and Syed (2018) due to increasing implementation of
disruptive technologies highly complex tasks and processes of service sector such as PwC have
become more simplified like analysis and research process of PwC have become effective in
nature and it has initiated application of various types of knowledge platform, models of
knowledge sharing and models of crowd sourcing which has helped in increasing operational
efficiency of organizations such as PwC.
PwC being an innovative organization can become an exponential organization by following
ways:
 According to Charania (2015) outsourcing their major activities in order to become more
flexible to adapt to changes in market.
 Using collaborative means in order to build community and measure their activities.
 Taking advantage of algorithms for increasing their efficiency.
 Practicing asset on demand and not owning much what they own.
 To increase connection between PwC and community to which they belong.
 Using dashboards and real time management system for calculating business
performances.
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 Engaging in experimentation similar to start-ups by constantly adapting to match external
influences.
 By implementing collaborating technologies.
 Developing customized processes regarding interfacing with their customers and other
companies.
PwC in its current business model has ability to survive in next 5 years as their business model is
comprised of 4 strategic processes namely attraction and development of diverse talents, creation
of phenomenal insights and know how processes, effective estimation of needs of clients and
recognition of opportunities and utilizing technological advancements and solutions and
delivering unique solutions to their clients which helps PwC in creating virtual cycle of
responsible and profitable growth. As stated by Parnell et al. (2017) above mentioned four
strategic processes helps PwC to adapt to any kind of changes in market and identify
opportunities for growth as per requirements of their clients which will further help them to
survive in upcoming 5 years.
Conclusion
From above report it is clear and evident that adoption of technology plays vital role in
determining success of company in market in which they operate as technology helps in
increasing effectiveness of value chain. It is even evident that as PwC has effectively focussed on
implementing disruptive technologies in their daily operations and supply chain, therefore they
will be able to remain competitive in market.
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References
Charania, N. (2015). Exponential organizations are the future of global business And Innovation.
TechCruch: New York [Online] Available: https://techcrunch.com/2015/07/05/exponential-
organizations-are-the-future-of-global-business-and-innovation/ Accessed as on 14/01/2019
Fatorachian, H., Shahidan, M., and Kazemi, H. (2013). Role of internet in supply chain
integration: Empirical evidence from manufacturing SMEs. European conference on
Management, Leadership and Governance: Kidmore End, 66-75. Available
athttps://search.proquest.com/docview/1467639894?accountid=30552Accessed as on 14/01/2019
Hahn, F., Jensen, S., and Tanev, S. (2014). Disruptive innovation vs. disruptive technology: The
disruptive potential of the value propositions of 3D printing technology start-ups. Technology
Innovation Management Review, 4(12), 27-36. Available
athttps://search.proquest.com/docview/1638203534?accountid=30552Accessed as on 14/01/2019
Montgomery, N., Squires, G., and Syed, I. (2018). Disruptive potential of real estate crowd
funding in the real estate project finance industry. Property Management, 36(5), 597-619.
Available at doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/PM-04-2018-0032Accessed as on 14/01/2019
Parnell, B. D., Stott, R., Stone, M., Aravopoulou, E., and Timms, L. (2017).Business model
innovation, strategic information and the role of analyst firms. The Bottom Line, 30(2), 151-162.
Available athttps://search.proquest.com/docview/1941297262?accountid=30552Accessed as on
14/01/2019
Story, W. K. (2016). Impact of supply chain technology response capability on firm performance
and supply chain technology performance. Business Premium Collection. Available
athttps://search.proquest.com/docview/1845054047?accountid=30552Accessed as on 14/01/2019
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