PART II: SWOT ANALYSIS1, 2, 3, 4 Assessment of Environment of Company
INTRODUCTION
Dell is one of the leading Computer hardware and software providing company. It offers a broad range of products and services. Products include desktop PCs, servers, networking products, storage, mobility products, software, peripherals and services include technical IT support, IT infrastructure development and consultation. Dell has been a pioneer of e- commerce as it was one of the first leading companies who extensively used internet to interact with its customer, suppliers and partners to build a strong e-commerce business. One of the main success strategy of Dell’s e-business was it build to order and direct sales of its products and services to its customers using the internet. It hugely reduced Dell’s product inventory cost and decreased the risk of losing value of the product before it can be sold. The company has established a strong market position and is able to defend the same with strong brand value. However, sluggish growth trends in the PC market will impact Dell negatively as the company has significant exposure to PC market segment1. As the business model of Dell heavily relies on e-commerce, we will discuss next the SWOT analysis of Dell Company keeping in mind that its business processes and business model based mainly on e-commerce.
STRENGTHS1, 2 * Strong market position supported by strong brand value * Diversified business operations with focus on growth areas * Dell’s Acquisitions drive to fuel growth. * Strong sales and marketing * Large ownership of patents, trademarks and licenses * Sustainable use of resources and environmental stewardship and social responsibility
Dell is market leader and has strong position in IT systems market, the company is also a leading player in the computer
References: 1. Dell Inc. (2011). Data monitor - Business Source Premier, Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.rap.ocls.ca/bsi/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=ef6be616-3f85-44c8-8fb3-fb0039bc275f@sessionmgr15&vid=5&hid=15 accessed on June 23, 2012. 2. SEC and PCAOB audits - Edgar online. (2012, March 13). Retrieved from http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/displayfilinginfo.aspx?FilingID=8480886-11582- accessed on June 23, 2012 3. Kraemer, K., & Dedrick, J. (2001). Dell computer: Using e- commerce to support the virtual company. (University of California) Retrieved from http://crito.uci.edu/papers/2001/dell_ecom_case_6-13-01.pdf accessed on June 27, 2010 4. Form 10k for dell Inc. yahoo finance. (2012, March 13). Retrieved from http://biz.yahoo.com/e/120313/dell10-k.html accessed on June 27, 2012 5. Dell reports first quarter financial results. (2012, May 22). Retrieved from http://content.dell.com/ca/en/corp/d/secure/2012-05-q1-13-release.aspx accessed on June 27, 2012 6. Dell cloud. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://content.dell.com/us/en/enterprise/cloud-computing accessed on June 27, 2012 7. Dell tablets. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://content.dell.com/us/en/gen/d/campaigns/tablet-pc accessed on June 27, 2012