Business & Marketing Just in Time for the Holidays

Just in Time for the Holidays
Name
Institution
Just in Time for the Holidays
Introduction
Integrating new technology to coordinate with business practices requires collaborative and strategic discussions within an organization. Business operators should be flexible in adopting new technology that will ensure maximization of quality output. Making process reviews across functional areas in a firm requires involvement of IT personnel, business experts and executives sponsors. Achieving the right systems also require a substantial capital investment and patience. In the HBR case, “Just In Time for the Holidays,” Mathew and Company, which is a full national chain of mall-based menswear stores is under threat of poor operation. The company faces operational problems because of the existence of inadequate systems such as an aging point-of-sale. Even though the organization’s rate of expansion is high, the chain stores are operating as though they are separate businesses since there are no active systems to run the stores as one business. The company’s executives are in conflict with the chief technology officer, Barry, because of asking them to invest more money to improve the firm’s technology.
Issues
Numerous issues are evident in the case. To start with, there is a matter of executive members investing extra money on the new project. The issue had been raised three months earlier, where the chief technology officer was given a task of researching on the project and convince the committee to agree on the deal. In a meeting to present the project to the board of executives, they were hostile to him, when he told them that the project needs extra cash, and it will be successful in two years. They wanted a project that will bear results immediately without investing a lot of money. Some members like Ted did not believe in technology; their only belief was on human strength to perform the task.
There is also a concern on how to increase sales and the company’s ‘share closet.' The general manager, Howard, understands the value of technology and his main aim is to use it to increase the ‘share closet.' However, this is impossible since the company cannot acquire the needed information. Members in the meeting highly complained of raw data that they were acquired because of the current weak systems. They argued that for them to accept the new system, it must handle data integration appropriately. In addition, they were a concern with how the system would affect their customers.
Lastly, there is the issue organizational dilemma. It occurs when members are forced to decide whether to risk their money and invest on a project that would change the operation of the business or risk operating the business without any modification. No one is willing to spend more money without any assurance even though the business activity is under threat.
Analysis
Mathew and Company business faces numerous problems. Services to customers have grown poorer since employees lack the necessary facilities to ensure the provision of quality services. Communication and gathering of information within...