Chemicals
Open Options’ unique process and proprietary game theory software have helped guide senior executives in the chemical industry since 1996. We work with executives as they tackle their toughest commercial and regulatory issues. There are often strong interconnectivities among chemical companies, with firms that compete in one particular market supplying each other with feedstock in another. Consequently, decisions made in any particular market may cause competitive reactions in related markets. Furthermore, technological innovations routinely commoditize formerly high-value products within a short span of time, forcing firms to quickly adjust their competitive position. The Open Options Process is highly suited to deal with these types of complexities.
What Does Open Options Do?
- We challenge executives to stretch their thinking and to look at issues differently by explicitly considering the perspectives and motivations of the critical parties involved in the issue
- We provide an effective, structured process to capture organizational knowledge
- We analyze that structured knowledge using proprietary game theory tools to explore the potential competitive strategies and the millions of ways the issue could play out
- We provide a practical action plan to reach the best attainable outcome for our client
- We build deep management consensus and trust on the best path forward
Our Process
Our efficient process consists of five steps:
- Define the Issue
- Harvest Organizational Knowledge
- Determine Players, Options and Preferences
- Reveal Insights with Game Theory Analysis
- Deliver a Trusted Decision and Action Plan
Our Experience
We have worked with some of the biggest chemical companies around the globe, on projects spanning the following application areas:
- Partnerships and joint ventures
- Capacity expansion
- Product supply alliances
- Effects of competitor vertical integration
- Political / regulatory interactions
- Dealing with foreign governments
- Generating new revenue growth
- Seeking to be acquired
- Defending from takeover
- Major asset sales and spin-offs
- Licensing agreements
- Infrastructure sharing
- Manufacturing alliances
- Dealing with a dominant competitor
- Dealing with a powerful customer
Related Clients
Case Study Descriptions
Below is a selected list of some of our success stories in the chemical industry. Please contact us to learn more about our process and to review a relevant case study:
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Managing Feedstock Challenges – “Live to Fight Another Day” Show more
A chemical company was facing challenges due to fluctuations in feedstock and finished product pricing that threatened the viability of a significant product line. However, strategic levers in the hands of the Client offered a way out that allowed the facility to stay in business until market conditions improved.
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Interrelated Markets – “Missed The Boat” Show more
A large multi-national chemical company had produced a specialty chemical for many years accounting for a third of their annual revenue. New technology bypassing the Client’s IP had eroded its competitive advantage. Direct Competitors had caught up to the Client’s capability and started to convert the specialty chemical into a commodity. With a high cost, high service culture, the Client did not know what to do in this new low cost, no service environment. At the same time, a new premium chemical was gaining acceptance in the marketplace and our Client had the ability to produce it. However, two other Multi-National conglomerates were looking to enter this new premium area. The Client was faced with deciding how best to grow in these two interrelated markets.
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New Technology – “Changing the Industry” Show more
The Client had developed a new technology, Product X, that would revolutionize its industry. However, 80% market share was held by another firm, who could either work with the Client, or against them. The Client’s industry primarily produces Ingredient Y. The innovation, Product X, allows Customers to save money by using more Ingredient Y in their products. Consequently, all of the Client’s competitors can potentially benefit from Product X. The Client was years ahead of its competition in X tech… but that could change.
What Makes Us Unique
As experts and specialists in solving business issues where multiple players can influence the final outcome, Open Options is unique in several ways:
