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Case

Telephony Technology Warehouser

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Difficulty: Intermediate | Style: Candidate-led (usual style) | Topics: Profitability analysis, Market analysis

Problem Definition

We are a warehouser (B2B) and have been facing a decline in profits since past 2 years. We would like you to figure out why this is happening and provide recommendations to reverse this trend.

Comments

The case is designed to be presented to the candidate by an interviewer, who plays the role of a representative of a telephony technology warehouser.

Short Solution (Expand)

Detailed Solution

Paragraphs highlighted in green indicate diagrams or tables that can be shared in the “Case exhibits” section.

Paragraphs highlighted in blue can be verbally communicated to the interviewee.

I. Background

The candidate should ask for more market information. The interviewer should provide all available information & data to candidate and it is up to candidate to define the issues that should be looked into based on the data/info provided.

Share Diagram 1 with candidate if deemed necessary.

As a warehouser, we purchase telephony technologies from manufacturers, and then sell them to a group of resellers, who in turn sell them to end consumers.

We are the largest company in the industry. Apart from one competitor who is almost as large as us, there are several small players in the market. In recent years we have not seen any new market entrants and all firms sell at industry-wide prices.

The reseller market can be divided into Value-Added (largest), Corporate (medium), and E-tailer (smallest) segments.

Please share Table 1 with the candidate.

II. Solution

After looking at the table, the candidate should be able to come up with the following observations:

  • The overall industry has shrunk
  • The client's overall market share has declined
  • Value-added is the largest segment and the firm has lost market share in this segment as well

From the above observations, the candidate should be able to make the following conclusion:

  • It is a bad business to be in as the overall industry has shrunk, both on price and volume basis

Since the overall volume has decreased, it could mean that the client and competitors are getting cut out from the value chain - the manufacturers maybe directly selling to the resellers or to the end consumers.

Falling prices can be a result of the price wars which are happening because of the shrinkage of the industry. We can see that the industry is rapidly ageing. Since there are no opportunities of product differentiation, there is little the firm can do to increase profitability. The firm should recognize this and look for options for exiting the industry.

III. Concluding Observations

The industry looks mature and is rapidly approaching obsolescence. There is little the firm can do to increase profitability. The firm should recognize this and look for options for exiting the industry.

Difficult Questions

What kind of options could the firm consider for exiting the industry?

  • Diversify into another industry
  • Sell the firm
  • Close the firm
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