How do the value chain and value web model help businesses identify opportunities for strategic information system applications?

(2) How do the Value Chain and Value Web Models help business identify opportunities for strategic information system applications?

Value Chain Model and Value Web Models help businesses identify opportunities for strategic information system applications. Value Chain Model views the firm as a series of activities that add value to products and services. Then, these activities which can be primary or support activities, are highlighted where competitive strategies can best be applied. At each stage, it is determined how information systems can improve operational efficiency and improve customer and supplier intimacy. Using the business value chain model will cause the organization to utilize benchmarking and best practices. I work in retail and we actually use best practices, we are always brain storming with other venue locations and sharing our "best practices" we use to drive sales, capture more guests, and how to up a sale.

Value Web Models is a collection of independent firms using highly synchronized IT to coordinate value chains to produce or service collectively. It is more customer driven and works in a less linear operation than value chain. The book uses Amazon as an example making your system more effective and efficient overall as a website retailer, and internet technology has made it possible through the value web models. 

What is the value chain model and how can it be used to identify opportunities for strategic information systems?

The value chain model identifies specific, critical leverage points where a firm can use information technology most effectively to enhance its competitive position. This model views the firm as a series or chain of basic activities that add a margin of value to a firm's products or services.

How useful is the concept of the value chain in identifying strategic advantage?

Value chain analysis is a strategy tool used to analyze internal firm activities. Its goal is to recognize, which activities are the most valuable (i.e. are the source of cost or differentiation advantage) to the firm and which ones could be improved to provide competitive advantage.

How information systems help businesses use synergies core competencies and network based strategies to achieve competitive advantage?

Information systems can improve the overall performance of these business units by promoting synergies and core competencies. In synergies, the output of some units can be used as inputs to other units, or two organizations pool markets and expertise, and these relationships lower costs and generate profits.

How does value chain analysis help in a business?

Conducting a value chain analysis prompts you to consider how each step adds or subtracts value from your final product or service. This, in turn, can help you realize some form of competitive advantage, such as: Cost reduction, by making each activity in the value chain more efficient and, therefore, less expensive.