Strategic PlanningImagine that IBM has decided to diversify into the telecommunications business to provide online cloud-computing data services and broadband access for businesses and individuals. What method would you recommend that IBM pursue to enter this industry? Why?

IBM could either diversify by the strategy of market penetration, which consists in increasing the market share in a particular sector (in this case, cloud computing) through more marketing efforts.

Or it could integrate horizontally, acquiring a possible competitor that is more advanced in the cloud-computing business. Or even a start-up with good prospects, because with the amount of capital that IBM has, it could more easily expand the start-up operation as a new internal business division.

c.

clarify customers’ doubts only when asked.