Reference no: EM132221766
MyLab MIS Samantha Green owns and operates Twigs Tree Trimming Service. Samantha graduated from the forestry program of a nearby university and worked for a large landscape design firm, performing tree trimming and removal. After several years of experience, she bought her own truck, stump grinder, and other equipment and opened her own business in St. Louis, Missouri. Although many of her jobs are one-time operations to remove a tree or stump, others are recurring, such as trimming a tree or groups of trees every year or every other year. When business is slow, she calls former clients to remind them of her services and of the need to trim their trees on a regular basis. Samantha has never heard of Michael Porter or any of his theories. She operates her business “by the seat of her pants.”
Read “Using Your Knowledge” 3.3, page 78 of the textbook about Samantha Green’s business.
1) Analyze the business environment in which Twigs Tree Trimming Service operates using Porter’s five-force model. Indicate whether the strength of any three of the five forces is strong, medium or weak (e.g., see Figure 3.4), and explain why.
2) What competitive strategy should Samantha follow for her business (see Figure 3.5)? How is this competitive strategy consistent with the analysis you made in question 1) above?
3) Describe an example of an activity for each of any three of the primary activities (Figure 3.7) and support activities (page 65) in the value chain of Twigs Tree Trimming Service.
4) Discuss one information system that Samantha’s business may develop to serve its needs based on any one of the following technologies: 1) the Internet of Things (IoT) (page 92), 2), 3D printing (page 100), 3) digital reality devices (pages 94 and 118). Be sure to discuss each of the five components of the information system (hardware, software, data, people and procedures).