1) How would you summarize Mathias Dpfners strategic leadership in the face of the digital revolution? What key strategic actions did he take and how were they different from how most other publishers approached the situation? How successful is the companys digital transformation as it stands in 2014?
2) What did Kai Diekmann, Peter Wrtenberger, and Martin Sinner learn from their 10 months in Silicon Valley and how did the incorporate these lessons into Axel Springers transformation? Moreover, what signals did their trip send to the organization?
3) What are the strategic challenges that Axel Springer faces in the next three to five years and how should they be addressed? In particular, what should be Axel Springers global strategy? How should Dpfner navigate the dynamics between his firms local (e.g. classifieds) and international (e.g. advertising) interests?
4) Beyond 2014, who is best positioned to take advantage of the evolving digital landscape: the old media content experts or the new media technology experts? Why? How can Axel Spring effectively fight against Google and other firms that may negatively impact the Fair Search and Fair Share environment referenced in the case?
5) If you were Mathias Dpfner, what would you like the digitally transformed publishing industry to look like in 2020? How would you want to strategically position Axel Springer in that transformed industry, and what would be the distinctive competencies necessary to occupy, defend and leverage that desired strategic position? In particular, what would be the role of the companys Silicon Valley outpost to support a winning corporate strategy?
