A Case Study for Food Industry on Utilizing e-Business Technology to Strengthen Competitiveness

• Main Authors: Chun-hsien Chen, 陳俊賢
• Other Authors: Shuo-Yan Chou
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2006
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/27444065718480099113

碩士 === 國立臺灣科技大學 === 工業管理系 === 95 === The environment for business competition has become increasingly daunting due to the rapid evolution of globalization. The application and advancement of internet and information technology have transformed how multi-national businesses manage and operate their enterprises. Geographical boundary is no longer a limitation for the international economic infrastructure; e-Business is undeniably the business model in this new era. Thus, the task of how to strengthen the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure for e-Business and how to effectively leverage IT service providers’ capabilities to help improve efficiency for all industries has become a top priority for large corporations. There are ample success examples in other countries on how large international factories rely on the technologies and application of e-Business to help improve their competitiveness and consolidating their tangible and intangible resources. It is the author’s belief that it would be beneficial to present some of these research results to similar industries in Taiwan on what the e-Business success factors are and the roles they play in the business transformation. The intent is to share lessons-learned, to help avoid making the same mistakes, and to shorten the duration of the of e-Business implementation. e-Business, based on the research results, academic studies and the comments from various scholars, is defined as “an intra organizational business process coordination, resource sharing, consolidation and technical iv collaboration”, etc. The end game for e-Business application is to increase revenue and efficiency. It utilizes Internet as the common platform for collaboration and coordination among stakeholders and customers; it adopts web applications in information sharing and business negotiation. e-Business opens the gate for e-Commerce. Therefore, we can see that e-Business is more than blindly investing in the adoption of expensive IT systems. As a matter of fact, the design and consideration on how to implement enterprise-wide e-Business starts from having a thorough review of the enterprise’s core business functions. The operational strategies must base on the company’s long-term business goals, which need to be consistent with the core business functions. Further revision will be required to scope out the achievable strategic goals, which will help crystallize the organization’s unique operational strategies. The next step would then be to figure out what appropriate e-Business technologies could be applied to solve its short-term operational challenges and execute its long-term strategies, which have already been clearly defined in the previous process. Concurrently, we can apply the identified process to help accomplish business re-engineering, making the entire e-Business the center of the business operations. The target of this research paper is a leading international food product conglomerate whose successful efforts in improving internal workflow and utilizing eBusiness cross the board has not only helped improve its business operations，increase competitiveness, but also has helped setting the direction for its future businesses. Following are the key points of this research: 一、 In order to maintain operational vitality and growth, this research target pushes its core business model extensively into the international market. 二、 This international food company adopts parallel business management models: centralization and localization; they are simultaneously utilized throughout its operation. 三、 Acquisition is a key and practical way to push forward internationalization. 四、 Improving internal workflow and infusing eBusiness are the key elements in solving issues brought upon by acquisitions. 五、 Our research target has two fundamental focuses when it comes to improving its logistics: improving strategic planning prior to acquisitions and improving supply chain post acquisitions. 六、 In order to meet the ever-changing market demands, it adopts flexibility and standardization as the two strategies for promoting eBusiness. 七、 To successfully execute its eBusiness strategies, it formulates a series of eBusiness policies in its business plan entitled “Global Business Excellence” to lay the foundation for successful future vi implementation. Through thorough analysis of the business model identified in the case study (including its operational strategies, strategic planning): business process improvement, e-Business implementation (including e-Business strategies, action items for promoting e-Business, and benefits for e-Business, etc.), it is hoped that this document will be able to serve as a benchmark for Taiwan’s enterprises and that e-Business can be viewed as the ends and means for business re-engineering.