Final answer:
Some companies like Procter & Gamble and Ford have experienced challenges with their internal digital centralization strategies, leading to inefficiencies and a need to pivot their approaches.
Step-by-step explanation:
When companies attempt to implement an internal digital centralization strategy, they often aim to streamline operations and reduce costs. However, not all efforts are successful. For instance, Procter & Gamble's centralization initiative in the early 2000s was an example where the approach did not yield the expected benefits. The company centralized its IT and back-office functions but later found this move did not deliver the agility needed to respond to market changes, leading to a strategic pivot to decentralize.
Similarly, Ford's digital centralization attempt in the late 1990s through their Ford 2000 initiative aimed to consolidate global operations but ended up increasing complexity and hindering responsiveness to local market needs. These business case studies serve to remind that while digital centralization can be effective, it also requires careful implementation that considers the unique needs of the business.