Instruction
Xerox, Kodak, IBM and others dominated not only the US, but the global market in their sectors. All three have radically downsized and modified their business models over the last 20 years. Kodak is retrenching into a technology and thinking organization. IBM and Xerox have moved away from the manufacture of hardware into service businesses.
Read the case: “Xerox Innovation Group: From Products to Services” in the coursepack. Approach this as a strategic move in the face of globalization and outsourced (less expensive) manufacturing. Are there other companies that you know of (or can research) that would/should adopt a similar strategy? 1) Start by giving a brief historical overview of Xerox. Also, in your introduction mention how companies must adapt to a changing market due to new technology in order to survive.
2) Has there been a trend of organizations such as hospitals, colleges, private sector companies, and government agencies to "go paperless" to be more environmentally friendly and to cut costs?
3) In the face of this digitization of data, how did Xerox try to survive as a company? Did they diversify to include services instead of mostly physical products (i.e. Xerox machines)? How are Xerox's annual revenue and stock price doing?
4) What other company can you think of that either succeeded or failed to keep up with changing market conditions?
Consider the best way to address the Xerox case study and the broader issue of the impact of digitization on society and the economy.