Zipcar Case Study
Table of Content
Analyze and discuss the strategic implications as related to management Page 3 information systems (MIS) that you derived from this case.
How did the company profiled in this case leverage information technology Page 3
(IT) to its strategic advantage (or disadvantage)?
Strategic Advantages Page 3
Strategic Disadvantages Page 5
Highlight any particular lessons learned that would be valuable for an MIS manager Page 6
Conclusion Page 7
Analyze and discuss the strategic implications as related to management information systems (MIS) that you derived from this case.
In the Zipcar case study, there was no particular strategic implication related to management of information system that could be derived from because IT was perfectly used to maximize Zipcar’s business advantage that brought advantages to both customers and the company’s bottom-line profits. By smartly use of technology, Zipcar was able to provide convenient and reliable access to on-demand transportation, making mobility as top priority. With the use of Internet and the technological infrastructure, Zipcar was able to build, operate, sustain, and scale a viable service to its customers. Since technology may fail sometimes, so obviously there was no recovery plan mentioned throughout the case.
How did the company profiled in this case leverage information technology (IT) to its strategic advantage (or disadvantage)?
Strategic Advantages
Zipcar has leveraged IT to its strategic advantage by making every car transaction count and convenient for customers over the Internet. Customer applied for a Zipcard that allow them to conduct online business with the company. Such online activities as reservation for a car in a few hours in their local city for a pickup at certain time and location, and unlock their car once the car was picked up within walking distance (Pearlson & Saunders,
Analyze and discuss the strategic implications as related to management Page 3 information systems (MIS) that you derived from this case.
How did the company profiled in this case leverage information technology Page 3
(IT) to its strategic advantage (or disadvantage)?
Strategic Advantages Page 3
Strategic Disadvantages Page 5
Highlight any particular lessons learned that would be valuable for an MIS manager Page 6
Conclusion Page 7
Analyze and discuss the strategic implications as related to management information systems (MIS) that you derived from this case.
In the Zipcar case study, there was no particular strategic implication related to management of information system that could be derived from because IT was perfectly used to maximize Zipcar’s business advantage that brought advantages to both customers and the company’s bottom-line profits. By smartly use of technology, Zipcar was able to provide convenient and reliable access to on-demand transportation, making mobility as top priority. With the use of Internet and the technological infrastructure, Zipcar was able to build, operate, sustain, and scale a viable service to its customers. Since technology may fail sometimes, so obviously there was no recovery plan mentioned throughout the case.
How did the company profiled in this case leverage information technology (IT) to its strategic advantage (or disadvantage)?
Strategic Advantages
Zipcar has leveraged IT to its strategic advantage by making every car transaction count and convenient for customers over the Internet. Customer applied for a Zipcard that allow them to conduct online business with the company. Such online activities as reservation for a car in a few hours in their local city for a pickup at certain time and location, and unlock their car once the car was picked up within walking distance (Pearlson & Saunders,
References: Kennedy, R. (2003, October 10). Taking the co-op out for a spin: New car rental idea depends on courtesy of strangers. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.umuc.edu/library Kohda, Y., & Masuda, K. (2013). How do sharing service providers create value? Knowledge Science Journal, 8, 32. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. Pearlson, K.E., & Saunders, C. S. (2010). Managing and using information systems: A strategic approach (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Shaheen, S., & Cohen, A. (2013). Innovative mobility carsharing outlook. The Transportation Sustainability Research Journal, 2(34), 3-5. University of California, Berkeley- Project.