Explain how a company's value chain works. Provide an example to illustrate your response

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

(Students' answers may vary. The answer given below is indicative.)
A value chain is the series of departments within a firm that carry out value-creating activities to design, produce, market, deliver, and support a firm's products. Each company department can be thought of as a link in a company's internal value chain. The company's success depends not only on how well each department performs its work but also on how well the various departments coordinate their activities. For example, Walmart's goal is to create customer value and satisfaction by providing shoppers with the products they want at the lowest possible prices. Marketers at Walmart play an important role. They learn what customers need and stock the stores' shelves with the desired products at unbeatable low prices. They prepare advertising and merchandising programs and assist shoppers with customer service. Through these and other activities, Walmart's marketers help deliver value to customers. However, the marketing department needs help from the company's other departments. Walmart's ability to help customers "Save Money. Live Better." depends on the purchasing department's skill in developing the needed suppliers and buying from them at low cost. Walmart's information technology department must provide fast and accurate information about which products are selling in each store. Its operations people must provide effective, low-cost merchandise handling. A company's value chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Success depends on how well each department performs its work of adding customer value and on how the company coordinates the activities of various departments. At Walmart, if purchasing can't obtain the lowest prices from suppliers, or if operations can't distribute merchandise at the lowest costs, then marketing can't deliver on its promise of unbeatable low prices.