AlpinaH2 – Assignment 1: The Vertical Integration Dilemma Nils Plambeck

“AlpinaH2’s production challenges and opportunities for vertical integration in the EV market.”

Leads off the text section above and sets up a scene for the reader by asking: what has Nils Plambeck done right to get us this far (and what lessons can be learned from him) as they go through another key business decision about vertical integration that will determine the future of AlpinaH2… As the head coach of his family-owned, high performance car parts retail business in Canada (and in the case study, just over $3M revenue, three locations, with a good customer reputation), Nils can’t be proud about their sales slipping, revenue declining year over year despite all the hard work he’s put into turning around the firm since a recent downturn… With each passing month, more cars seem to disappear off of their lot and there is simply not much on the horizon. If it wasn’t already apparent from your reading, then Nils and AlpinaH2 likely don’t need your help making an easier vertical integration decision. This means he’s well on your path and is at least looking ahead at AlpinaH2 becoming another large distributor, rather than something bigger.

Vertical integration challenges in the automotive industry: AlpinaH2 and its supply chain.

## Article topic: “AlpinaH2 – Assignment 1: The Vertical Integration Dilemma
### My First-Person Account
This decision has been weighing heavily on me and my team at AlpinaH2 for months as we face an incredibly challenging situation. Our current financial health has gotten us this far, but now my concern comes not just because of this issue, but the possibility that things could get worse for this vertical

AlpinaH2 is a hypothetical scenario where Nils Plambeck must decide whether to expand the

## Background / Context
Before we dive into specifics, let’s put this question in a more familiar context by analyzing it according to the case structure I shared earlier. To be fair, I want you to remember that while AlpinaH2 is fictitious for me and this problem hasn’t truly emerged yet, it mirrors some real issues of similar companies dealing with their competitive position, financial stresses, technological changes, as well as supply chain complexities that have accelerated dramatically during this period with COVID 19 crisis. Moreover, these are often the challenges that are tackled by many real world company’s CEO. Now that I provided that background and some analogous problems from the corporate life you may see why Nils Plambeck from AlpinaH2 is dealing with such pressing challenges

“The challenges faced by AlpinaH2 during vertical integration into the automotive industry”

**Presentation 4: Personal Journey & Vulnerability: How Self-Assessment helped me find strength – [Your Personal Story]*

“Vertical integration dilemma: balancing control and autonomy.”

You’ll need to provide some specifics to frame your argument so feel free to quote specific data. The key is clarity and simplicity: explain concepts succinctly and link them to the problem so the story flows naturally. Try to write as if you were explaining these things to an average person without an accounting/finance/etc. background

AlpinaH2 (the vertical integration choice) presents an emotional challenge (a decision to buy Alpineru (a supplier)).

One possible short phrase for a random subtopic about AlpinaH2 could be: “AlpinaH2

> # AlpinaH2 – Assignment 1: The Vertical Integration Dilemma

AlpinaH2 and the debate over vertical integration.

You can refer to a document or case book without stating whether you are drawing from that resource for some parts. Your main responsibility is to create an authentic discussion and analyze AlpinaH2 using your analytical lens as would a graduate in management. > _My Field Notes: “Vertical” Integration In the Coutroom_
If there aren’t specific “vertical integration” references in your document, refer to this term as it relates to acquiring input material sources upstream and converting those inputs into output for downstream sales channels through manufacturing capabilities as it is in AlpinaH2, as if referring specifically to their situation. Think about real businesses doing something similar. (This reference doesn’t change anything in the original prompt.)

“AlpinaH2: Vertical Integration Dilemma Nils Plambeck”

1. Case Background / Context Nils Plambeck is the new CEO and president of AlpinaH2 at a time when the company must decide if it will vertically integrate upstream into raw material processing to achieve better performance metrics, competitive pricing, and increased market share in downstream channel segments such as consumer products. The current AlpinaH2 process includes multiple stakeholders, including AlpineTech (raw material sourcing and extraction/processing technologies), Chem-Source (manufacturing and packaging components and services), and retail outlets, each contributing revenue to the profit equation in their distinct roles. The decision to vertically integrate has many implications on company strategies, operations, resources, click for more info trust, and long-term sustainability as a business, particularly given the high capital-intensive nature of such investments into processing, testing, validation, distribution, warehousing, logistics, marketing, quality control, safety protocols, supply chain management, intellectual property rights, employee recruitment, training, and customer acquisition. While AlpinaH2 can increase control over its input materials and improve product consistency and brand perception (vertical advantage) among competitive products, potential competitors in raw materials supply may see the opportunity to exploit the open door by diversifying from their vertical niche or targeting areas that alpine companies such as AlpinaH2 don’t serve, creating new markets and revenue streams outside of current upstream operations (counterpart advantage).

“Vertical integration of AlpinaH2 and other companies to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.”

My Personal war stories (legal consulting, courtrooms, academia, casework, business strategies, management, consulting firms)…