Strategic information management in the value chain of a multi-national organization, operating in the vehicle industry

Abstract

The aim of this study is to conduct a thorough theoretical study on information management in the value chain of an organisation operating in the motor industry. In order to achieve the primary objective of the study, which is to gain a better understanding of how an organisation in the motor industry can manage information in the value chain to add productivity and reduce waste in all facets in order to gain economies of scale and add sustainable growth, a literature and empirical study will be conducted. The focus of the literature study was to research the state of information management technologies in the motor industry. The literature study investigate the implications of information management technologies for employees, customers and thus for the industry and provide an overview of frameworks found in literature with the emphasis on the management of information within the organisations value and supply chain. The empirical research in chapter three had as objectives to investigated respondents' attitudes towards an information management initiative within the organisation, and respondents' perceptions towards the importance of information management within the organisation. The empirical research also investigates which information source customers use when they browse the internet for products and the importance of building relationships with customers through information management. There is ample proof from the empirical study that customers and product suppliers can have a closer relationship with the effective use of information management. Customer needs can be realised much faster and a interactive relationship can be managed if the organisation implements information management initiatives correctly. The final chapter concludes with a summary of the secondary objectives researched in the literature (Chapter two) and Empirical research (Chapter three) chapters in order to support recommendations towards the primary objective of the study. The rapid pace of adoption and advancement of e-business and e-commerce technologies creates opportunities for new and innovative services provided through information management initiatives. The motor industry finds itself in the early stages of the electronic economy, where customers and product suppliers can be bound together through the use of information. Recommendations were made in the final chapter on how an organisation in the motor industry can use and implement information management techniques. Information management in the value chain has the potential to increase capacity of the organisation through improving efficiency and productivity of operations, further increasing service and product quality and thus customer loyalty.