8 Responses

1. Value Chain in brief
   Alan, the Value Chain represents the passage of a product from your supplier(s) of raw materials to your end consumer, moving through distributors, intermediaries, your own company’s internal functions through any retailers or intermediaries you may have on the products way to the end consumer – anywhere, in fact, where value may be added (or reduced.) Managing this chain, especially those areas outside of your own company, helps to ensure a quality product and buying experience (value) for your end customers.

   Additionally, knowing the value chains of your customers gives you a better understanding for your company’s relationship with customers and how you can help them add value for their customers.

   Hope this helps. Melanie Hollinshead

2. Value Chain Resource
   Alan
   The Australian government has an excellent resource on this subject. We reference it as a link for managers on our m@sterclass and f@sterclass senior management programmes. Go there and have a look at the resources which (if I remember) includes a copy of Porter’s diagram.
   http://www.valuechains.isr.gov.au/

   Clive Hook
   Clearworth – a class apart
   http://www.clearworth.com

   PS – It also says something about how technology has changed our ways and means of learning. Our UK managers can now visit reources and research they would never have had available to them before. Who said blended learning wouldn’t catch on??

3. Here’s some material that might help
   You are welcome to use the material at http://www.hot-spots.co.uk/FreshTraining/VC/ValueChain.htm

   Please acknowledge that it is Copyright © Hot-Spots Multimedia Ltd 2002

4. Supply chain management
   I’d recommend you get in-touch with Mike Nevin. He’s quite an authority in this area (Association of Strategic Alliance Partnerships UK Chairman). He’d certainly be able to point you in the direction of others if he couldn’t personally help. His email is mike.nevin@qa.com. Hope this helps, Conall

5. value chain
   If you want some leading edge and practical ideas which are relevant to today (cf Porter in 1980’s) habe a look at
   http://www.express-strategy.co.uk.

   They’ve developed some really good tools which get you along the path for your organisation within a couple of hours

   Steve

6. Value Chain Simulation
   We are creating a value chain business simulation currently. Let me know if this would help your situation.

7. Value Chain Analysis
   Value Chain Management describes the analysis and control of the activities within and around an organisation and relates them to competitive strength of an organisation (see Exploring Corporate Strategy, Porter (1999)

8. Animated value chain tutorials
   You’re probably drowning in information by now, but if you’d like an animated explanation of the business system/value chain and related concepts in the strategy field – go to http://www.i-coach.com, click on the ‘free i-Coach demo’ and then choose the Strategy demo. Business systems and value chains are covered in the first section (‘Introduction’ then ‘What is Strategy’). Hope this helps. Richard