Xerox Company
Xerox Company
Xerox Company
Xerox Product
Company Background
Xerox, the document company, was a multinational
corporation serving the global document-processing
and financial services markets in over 130 countries.
Xerox was one of the outstanding business success
stories in the world. From 1946 to 1973, their annual
sales growth exceeded 25%, while the annual growth
of earnings exceeded 35%.
During this rapid growth period, Xerox built its
worldwide business network. Joe Wilson decided to
grow the company as rapidly as possible. The swift
growth, proprietary technology and sales methods also
joint venture with the Rank Organization PLC.
Xerox operation managers, however began to feel the
competitive pressure. Between 1970 and 1980, Xeroxs
market share as measured by US copier revenues, fell
from 96% to 45%. David Kearns became chairman in
1982, and was aware of significant market share
losses. Xerox managers started to improve the
cumbersome management process. Xerox improved its
management information system and standardized
reporting format to address of these problem. The
strategy change the culture of Xerox and gave it the
competitive muscle to regain market share and market
improvement in the company operation.
Organization
Xerox Building
Note, the FEC evolved in parallel with the start of the LTQ and Benchmarking
activities. The new Xerox LTQ culture demanded an involved and proactive
finance group. The key to the value added concept was in helping line managers
make more enlightened business decisions. In addition, the FEC was the central
developer of the companys financial human resource talent.
Financial Organization
They had a dotted line relationship to corporate finance for their fiduciary roles,
financial reporting, and professional development. The document processing
financial organization of Xerox was a modified matrix, multinational organization
with the business unit controller having both solid and dotted line reporting
responsibility. The business divisions, with responsibility for product development
and manufacturing, managed their business throughout the world. The customer
operation divisions were organized geographically and managed customer
relationships. The management control system concentrated on the
responsibility and performance of the 12 business divisions.
Management Control
The management system began with the planning process. Each operating unit
within a business division or customer operation division developed its annual
and long-range plans. The overriding principle was that the division general
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