Dell’s Integrated Supply Chain
See “The Power of Virtual Integration: An Interview with Dell Computer’s Michael Dell,” Harvard Business review, March-April 1998 pp. 72-84, which is included in this book.
The Decision
Takai perused the neatly prepared documents that had been provided by her staff. There was a broad-based comparison between Dell and Ford on many important dimensions (see Exhibits 1).
Virtual integration would require changes in fundamental operations; some of the changes, framed as a shift from “push” to “ pull” processes, were identified in another document (Exhibit 2). Whatever she decided, she would have to do it soon. Meetings were already scheduled with the vice president of quality and process leadership, and from there the recommendations would move upward, eventually reaching Nasser.