Mini Case

1. In discussion with Josh, Tonya foreshadows "some serious obstacles to overcome." Describe these obstacles in detail.

2. How can Josh win support for his team's three-point plan to use technology to help IFG reach its customers?

International Journal of Production Research 46, no. 9 (May 2008): 2485-98. Smith, G., K. Watson, W. Baker, and J. Pokorski. "A Critical Balance: Collaboration and Security Innovation at International Foods s2 Tebbutt, D. "The Business Value of Collaboration IFG wanted to stomp on its competition and others because it wanted their good ideas. Josh's own small company, Glow-Foods, a relative newcomer in the business, was fortunately one of the latter, but Josh was a little puzzled about this command performance. After all, he himself wasn't anyone important. The owners of the company all received multiple millions and were sticking around-as per contract-during the transition. The next level, including Josh's boss, had mostly jumped ship as soon as the "merger" was announced. "This isn't my thing," drawled Nate Greenly over beer one night at the local pub. "Corporate America isn't going to let us stay as we are, no matMBA in his pocket, thought differently. And so here he was, walking into the CIO's office hundreds of miles away from the cramped loft in Toronto where Glow-Foods was headquartered. As the office door swung open, two people dressed in "power suits" turned to meet him. "Uh oh, I'm not in Kansas anymore," thought Josh as he mentally reviewed his outfit of neatly pressed khakis and golf shirt, which was a big step up from his usual attire of jeans and a T-shirt. A tall man with silver hair stepped forward with his hand held out. "You must be Josh," he boomed. "Welcome. I'm John Ahern, and this is my associate, Tonya James, manager of IT marketing. Thanks for coming today. Please, have a seat." Josh complied, slinging his backpack over the corner of the leather chair 2 Smith, H. A., and J. D. McKeen. "Innovation at International Foods." \#1-L09-1-002, Queen's School of Business, December 2009. Reproduced by permission of Queen's University, School of Business, Kingston, Ontario. IT strategy issues and practice... 236