DocuSign:  in preparation for your site visit to DocuSign, DocuSign is a start-up from Silicon Valley in California that has evolved into one of the world’s leading e-based document signing technology companies.  As the linked article shows, DocuSign has serious expansion plans for the Dublin office and hopes to hire 1,000 additional workers.  Based on your quick review of the article on DocuSign’s expansion to Dublin, identify one commercial opportunity and one commercial challenge they are addressing in this expansion.

They have an opportunity to tap into the Irish market.  They are hiring customer support members, and if they treat their workers properly and receive the reputation as a good place to work, they can establish trust in the Irish community.  Not only can they hire the highest quality workers, but they can also sell their services to local consumers in Ireland.  However, it will be a challenge to retain their client base that they had in America.  Since they are now located in Ireland, it could possibly be a struggle to communicate with their former American customers.  This could result in a loss of American companies, even if they tap into the new Irish market.

Google EMEA Headquarters in Dublin: In preparation for your site visit to Google’s Headquarters in Dublin for its Europe, Middle East and Africa division, this is an excellent example of how a firm is responding to opportunities and challenges in generating digital advertising revenue in its broader social environment by recognizing and addressing opportunities and challenges related to digital advertising revenue in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  Based on your quick review of the article on Google’s 15 years in Ireland, identify one commercial opportunity and one commercial challenge they are addressing in the EMEA headquarters.

Clearly, they have an opportunity to keep expanding in Europe as they are now tapped into a worldwide market.  If the expansion continues to go well, it is possible that they look into an Asian headquarters to continue their international expansion.  If Google continues to expand at this rate, it could be a challenge to maintain the high standard that they set for their employees and other workers associated with the Google name.

Questions For The Site Visits:  Finally, acting as members of consulting teams that might choose to write a group paper about the commercial opportunities and challenges connected to DocuSign or Google EMEA Headquarters in Dublin, what specific questions do you have about the business model for DocuSign that relate to our course material (Triple Bottom Line and sustainability, market segmentation, maximization versus shared value, etc.)?  What specific questions do you have about the business model for Google EMEA Headquarters in Dublin that relate to our course material (Triple Bottom Line and sustainability, market segmentation, maximization versus shared value, etc.)?    Give us specific questions for each of tomorrow’s visits.

DocuSign – How has the move to Ireland effected your client relationship and marketing programs in America?

Google – Is Google considering expanding to Asia?