Master in Business Administration School of Business and Management Xavier University

The Competition Chips Away at Cray Research Case #7

Dr. Alma Frances R. Hortelano

MBA 111B Dynamics of Management

Balatero, Maria Victoria J.

MBA 1

The Competition Chips Away at Cray Research Case #7 I. II. Point of View: Former Chief Executive Officer of Cray Research Co. Mr. Seymour Cray. Statement of the Problem: The predicament circulates is how Mr. Seymour Cray, Former Chief Executive Officer of Cray Research Co. could have handle the dynamics of competition from his competitors, the internal pressures from his company and paying attention of the market from his consumers. Objective/s: As an Former Chief Executive, Mr. Cray is suppose to create a sound relationship between his company, and market niche. By having productivity and efficiency between the inner personal conflict within himself and his company from internal pressures by disseminating proper communication, motivation and perception for his company's future goals. As well as having economic efficiency, their dynamics of competition from their technological market , and as well as being budget wise to their time limited projects and innovation particularly responsive to the changing needs to their consumers needs. Areas of consideration: 1. Mr. Seymour Cray former CEO of Cray Research and the creator of the Cray 1, is an intrepreneur and entrepreneur which has an eccentric and introvert personality, as well as the innovator and inventor that specifically partake of the growing success of Cray Research Company which is a spin-off Control Data Corp which was the former company of Mr. Cray. But due to his lack to convey in order to communicate from his company and who is also, particularly being self observe only to his projects. Thus, resulting to consider the slow completion of his creations and the lack of funds from his company from it and also adhering to progress of his companies that he created on wards to future goals or continue without him. 2. The dynamics of competition in terms of the supercomputer competition in terms of technological capabilities creating new innovative which compromise a newly marketable economic efficiency to be particularly responsive to the changing the growing needs of consumers. In particular of inventing supercomputers that has the capability computing which defined as a typically thought of
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III.

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as using the maximum computing power to solve a single large problem in the shortest amount of time. 3. Internal struggle within the company that compromise the internal pressure to be ahead of other competitors and the market niche by pushing to adopt strategies that are suppose to move the company in a different direction. In terms cause a rift and struggle within the relationship of the former CEO Mr. Cray and the new appointed CEO Mr. Rollwagen. Because Mr. Cray wanted to still retain and fully focused on creating an adapt version but highly expensive material of his creation thus losing a lot of financial support which is the life blood of his company. And because Mr. Rollwagen wanted to play safe for the company to stay afloat and for the company to survive in the future. V. Alternative Courses of Action 1. As former CEO, Mr. Cray could have disseminate proper motivation and communication on his company, resulting of reconstructing the inner conflict relationship between his perception of market strategy for supercomputers and not separating himself and his company as a whole. Given to the predicament, it should had been handled that on creating a good relationship between Cray's personal interest of being an intrepreneur as well as entrepreneur, that should have been reflected towards his creation of his company to support and fund that interest without the sacrifice of the other. He should have understood that he cannot be a separate entity and just left Mr. Rollwagen and his team to suffer without proper dissemination of his plans. Mr. Cray would have embraced the change of the shift of creating another market for technology right along with his company. That in existence by other competitors of making a diversify of minicomputers as well as materials that can alternate the cost production of the technology. Mr. Cray has the control not only to focus on development of the projects but can also look into the growing trends of change between newer territory of technology and paid much more attention to the market shift. By also having project control, it will then create a time line on how the creation should be planned and budgeted. And also, in consideration by having concrete efficiency towards a unified goal from the company, it should have then stabilized the gap between the workforce between his company and the existence of targets and alternative. Thus, Mr. Cray having
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well aware the dynamics of competitors are forces need not be personal. For example, they may strive against the elements, each competing for the mastery of the other and also the elements may indeed strive against each other. By having the advantage of being the first person to open the market for supercomputers, it did gave Mr. Cray the embodiment of market shift creating a greater entrepreneurial activity to innovate and pioneer of price control creating the first step of change. 2. As CEO, Mr. Cray would assume that by not addressing and giving the right approach of strategic planning as well as handling the dynamics of competition and internal pressures inside and outside the company thus resulted the gap and losing of his company, his funds for his project, possible team work from his workforce, stakeholders and shifting competitors under his appointed company which was the Cray Research Co. and other future company. VI. Recommendation: Given to the circumstances, Mr. Cray should had taken the 1st action on how to do a better strategic action that could have given a complying thought to the company's predicament and may possible lead to sustain the company further. As Quoted, Competition is a process, in which the long-run and short-run may look very different, and in which firms use a variety of weapons not just price with which to compete. Innovation, product design and variety are often important parts of the competitive game between firms". In consideration between the relationship of Mr. Cray and his perspective of himself is like Icarus. Under the Greek mythology, Icarus died because he was relatively focusing on his given success and proceed to give a higher risk without considering the consequences of his actions. Same as the story, Having Mr. Cray in the company itself being the creator and inventor , he could have paid attention more to the market shift and as well as adopting efficient and faster strategies disseminate proper motivation and good communication on team work that could reinforce the inner conflict of his company and then could have given positive and productive strategies in order for the company to progress. He should not have appointed by fixing his problems on diving his interest between production and growth of his company but instead he should have focused on one. As CEO is being able to touch the day to day operation in the company should concentrate not only in a particular area but should completely look at company in a bigger picture as well as in the future aspect. It is to consider that even though Mr. Cray is relatively acting as an intrepreneur rather than an entrepreneur, he should
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have given to compromise his desired goals and his company's goal, giving its due respect of decision from his team and management. Giving that Mr. Cray is relatively using almost all resources and funds in handing on to his creations. Given to the dynamic of competition by having the dilemma between the inner and outer conflict of the company, the existence of a multiplicity of powers and the existence of a goal should strive in respect of the Company's goal for Mr. Cray. By fixing the inner aspect it will progressively manifest to the outside competition immersing the projects as a whole creating a bigger competition with other companies. Thus, therefore, the existence of competition means the existence of targets. In result it boils down on what has given at that time of era, that the dynamics of competition is at large on creating a newer technology that has a great value for money, efficiency and productivity for consumers even today. Because they will relatively will pay more for a product that they believe deliver rather than shop around for cheaper offerings which result into disappointments.