As a global company, we at Hitachi Data Systems recognized
the dual-edged sword of globalization quickly.
For many years, we have enjoyed our well-earned reputation
for providing state-of-the-art technology products to
our customers, and we support this with world-class service.
We realized, however, that we could maintain our
leadership position only by overcoming the ever-increasing
pressures of commoditization and global competition.
We have succeeded by shifting our focus from being product-
centric to solution-centric. Today, we define ourselves
not just by the products or services that we offer, but by
how we can solve our customers’ problems—and this is
beginning to have an impact on everything we undertake
as a business.
This book is all about how to succeed in today’s tough
marketplace by transitioning your organization to solutioncentricity,
just as we have. Eades and Kear provide insightful
ideas about how organizations can adjust their thinking
in order to better solve the problems of customers and
thereby differentiate themselves from commoditized offerings.
Further, the authors provide practical tools and methods
for analyzing your own organization’s barriers to
solution-centric transformation and helpful advice about
how to overcome these barriers.
As Hitachi Data Systems succeeds in establishing itself
as a world-leading solution-centric company, these concepts
play an important role in our transformation. As
you read The Solution-Centric Organization, I encourage
you to apply these ideas for improving your own organi-
Foreword
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