Abstract

IBM, a US-based computer hardware and software manufacturer, had implemented a Big Data strategy, where the company offered solutions to store, manage, and analyze the huge amounts of data generated daily and equipped large and small companies to make informed business decisions. The company believed that its Big Data and analytics products and service would help its clients become more competitive and drive growth. In order to have an extensive portfolio of Big Data technologies and solutions, spanning services, software, research and hardware, the company acquired around 30 companies, spending US$16 billion over these Big Data acquisitions. Cognos, SPSS, Netezza, and Vivismo were a few of the many companies that got integrated into its Big Data platform. On October 29, 2013, IBM completed the acquisition of an Ireland-based The Now Factory. In 2011, the company also invested US$100 million in the research and development of Big Data services and solutions.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Understand the concept of Big Data and its importance to large, medium, and small companies in the current industry scenario
• Understand the need for implementing a Big Data strategy and the various issues and challenges associated with this.
• Analyze the Big Data strategy of IBM
• Explore ways in which IBM’s Big Data strategy could be improved further.

Keywords

Big Data, Big Data Strategy, Big Data platform, Big Data technologies and solutions, Internal decision support, Analytics, Pattern-Based Strategy, Business strategy, Integration, Acquisition, Knowledge-based view, IBM