StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Organizational Development
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose
In this supplement to StormFisher (A): Power with Purpose, students are presented with an abbreviated version of the business plan, and challenged to enlist and respond to funding alternatives.
Authors :: Oana Branzei, Stewart Thornhill, Adam Reeds
Swot Analysis of "StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose" written by Oana Branzei, Stewart Thornhill, Adam Reeds includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Stormfisher Abbreviated facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Sustainability, Technology, Venture capital and Organizational Development.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose casestudy better are - – supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , increasing household debt because of falling income levels, increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%, geopolitical disruptions, central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, there is increasing trade war between United States & China, digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google,
banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, technology disruption, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Stormfisher Abbreviated, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Stormfisher Abbreviated operates in.
According to Harvard Business Review, 75% of the managers use SWOT analysis for various purposes such as – evaluating current scenario, strategic planning, new venture feasibility, personal growth goals, new market entry, Go To market strategies, portfolio management and strategic trade-off assessment, organizational restructuring, etc.
SWOT Objectives / Importance of SWOT Analysis and SWOT Matrix
SWOT analysis of StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Stormfisher Abbreviated
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in Organizational Development field.
4. Making a Organizational Development topic specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Stormfisher Abbreviated
Strengths StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Stormfisher Abbreviated in StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose Harvard Business Review case study are -
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Stormfisher Abbreviated in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Stormfisher Abbreviated has highly efficient outsourcing and offshoring strategy. It has resulted in greater operational flexibility and bringing down the costs in highly price sensitive segment. Secondly the value chain collaborators of the firm in StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Ability to lead change in Organizational Development field
– Stormfisher Abbreviated is one of the leading players in its industry. Over the years it has not only transformed the business landscape in its segment but also across the whole industry. The ability to lead change has enabled Stormfisher Abbreviated in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
High brand equity
– Stormfisher Abbreviated has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Stormfisher Abbreviated to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Stormfisher Abbreviated is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Stormfisher Abbreviated has innovation driven culture where significant part of the revenues are spent on the research and development activities. This has resulted in, as mentioned in case study StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Stormfisher Abbreviated in the sector have low bargaining power. StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Stormfisher Abbreviated to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Learning organization
- Stormfisher Abbreviated is a learning organization. It has inculcated three key characters of learning organization in its processes and operations – exploration, creativity, and expansiveness. The work place at Stormfisher Abbreviated is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Training and development
– Stormfisher Abbreviated has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose Harvard Business Review case study by analyzing – employees retention, in-house promotion, loyalty, new venture initiation, lack of conflict, and high level of both employees and customer engagement.
Analytics focus
– Stormfisher Abbreviated is putting a lot of focus on utilizing the power of analytics in business decision making. This has put it among the leading players in the industry. The technology infrastructure suggested by Oana Branzei, Stewart Thornhill, Adam Reeds can also help it to harness the power of analytics for – marketing optimization, demand forecasting, customer relationship management, inventory management, information sharing across the value chain etc.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose Harvard Business Review case study comprises – understanding the underlying the factors in the industry, building diversified operations across different geographies so that disruption in one part of the world doesn’t impact the overall performance of the firm, and integrating the various business operations and processes through its digital transformation drive.
Strong track record of project management
– Stormfisher Abbreviated is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
Weaknesses StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose are -
High dependence on star products
– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose HBR case study still accounts for major business revenue. This dependence on star products in has resulted into insufficient focus on developing new products, even though Stormfisher Abbreviated has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
High dependence on existing supply chain
– The disruption in the global supply chains because of the Covid-19 pandemic and blockage of the Suez Canal illustrated the fragile nature of Stormfisher Abbreviated supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Stormfisher Abbreviated vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Stormfisher Abbreviated has a high cash cycle compare to other players in the industry. It needs to shorten the cash cycle by 12% to be more competitive in the marketplace, reduce inventory costs, and be more profitable.
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Stormfisher Abbreviated, firm in the HBR case study StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose has high operating costs in the. This can be harder to sustain given the new emerging competition from nimble players who are using technology to attract Stormfisher Abbreviated 's lucrative customers.
Products dominated business model
– Even though Stormfisher Abbreviated has some of the most successful products in the industry, this business model has made each new product launch extremely critical for continuous financial growth of the organization. firm in the HBR case study - StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
Slow decision making process
– As mentioned earlier in the report, Stormfisher Abbreviated has a very deliberative decision making approach. This approach has resulted in prudent decisions, but it has also resulted in missing opportunities in the industry over the last five years. Stormfisher Abbreviated even though has strong showing on digital transformation primary two stages, it has struggled to capitalize the power of digital transformation in marketing efforts and new venture efforts.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose, in the dynamic environment Stormfisher Abbreviated has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Stormfisher Abbreviated has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Stormfisher Abbreviated needs to come up with a strategy to reduce the workers concern regarding automation. Without a clear strategy, it could lead to disruption and uncertainty within the organization.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose, it seems that the employees of Stormfisher Abbreviated don’t have comprehensive understanding of the firm’s strategy. This is reflected in number of promotional campaigns over the last few years that had mixed messaging and competing priorities. Some of the strategic activities and services promoted in the promotional campaigns were not consistent with the organization’s strategy.
Slow to strategic competitive environment developments
– As StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose HBR case study mentions - Stormfisher Abbreviated takes time to assess the upcoming competitions. This has led to missing out on atleast 2-3 big opportunities in the industry in last five years.
Opportunities StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose | External Strategic Factors
What are Opportunities in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The opportunities highlighted in the Harvard Business Review case study StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose are -
Use of Bitcoin and other crypto currencies for transactions
– The popularity of Bitcoin and other crypto currencies as asset class and medium of transaction has opened new opportunities for Stormfisher Abbreviated in the consumer business. Now Stormfisher Abbreviated can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Stormfisher Abbreviated can make experimentation a productive activity and build a culture of innovation using approaches such as – mining transaction data, A/B testing of websites and selling platforms, engaging potential customers over various needs, and building on small ideas in the Organizational Development segment.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Stormfisher Abbreviated can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Changes in consumer behavior post Covid-19
– Consumer behavior has changed in the Organizational Development industry because of Covid-19 restrictions. Some of this behavior will stay once things get back to normal. Stormfisher Abbreviated can take advantage of these changes in consumer behavior to build a far more efficient business model. For example consumer regular ordering of products can reduce both last mile delivery costs and market penetration costs. Stormfisher Abbreviated can further use this consumer data to build better customer loyalty, provide better products and service collection, and improve the value proposition in inflationary times.
Identify volunteer opportunities
– Covid-19 has impacted working population in two ways – it has led to people soul searching about their professional choices, resulting in mass resignation. Secondly it has encouraged people to do things that they are passionate about. This has opened opportunities for businesses to build volunteer oriented socially driven projects. Stormfisher Abbreviated can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Stormfisher Abbreviated to increase its market reach. Stormfisher Abbreviated will be able to reach out to new customers. Secondly 5G will also provide technology framework to build new tools and products that can help more immersive consumer experience and faster consumer journey.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Stormfisher Abbreviated in the field of marketing communication. It will bring down the cost of doing business, provide technology platform to build new products in the Organizational Development segment, and it will provide faster access to the consumers.
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– Stormfisher Abbreviated has spent a significant amount of money and effort to integrate analytics and machine learning into its operations in the sector. This continuous investment in analytics has enabled, as illustrated in the Harvard case study StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Stormfisher Abbreviated to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of Stormfisher Abbreviated has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Stormfisher Abbreviated to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose case study. Stormfisher Abbreviated can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
Manufacturing automation
– Stormfisher Abbreviated can use the latest technology developments to improve its manufacturing and designing process in Organizational Development segment. It can use CAD and 3D printing to build a quick prototype and pilot testing products. It can leverage automation using machine learning and artificial intelligence to do faster production at lowers costs, and it can leverage the growth in satellite and tracking technologies to improve inventory management, transportation, and shipping.
Developing new processes and practices
– Stormfisher Abbreviated can develop new processes and procedures in Organizational Development industry using technology such as automation using artificial intelligence, real time transportation and products tracking, 3D modeling for concept development and new products pilot testing etc.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Stormfisher Abbreviated can build a diversified supply chain model across various countries in - South East Asia, India, and other parts of the world. This reconfiguration of global supply chain can help, as suggested in case study, StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Leveraging digital technologies
– Stormfisher Abbreviated can leverage digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate the production process, customer analytics to get better insights into consumer behavior, realtime digital dashboards to get better sales tracking, logistics and transportation, product tracking, etc.
Threats StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose are -
Technology disruption because of hacks, piracy etc
– The colonial pipeline illustrated, how vulnerable modern organization are to international hackers, miscreants, and disruptors. The cyber security interruption, data leaks, etc can seriously jeopardize the future growth of the organization.
Instability in the European markets
– European Union markets are facing three big challenges post Covid – expanded balance sheets, Brexit related business disruption, and aggressive Russia looking to distract the existing security mechanism. Stormfisher Abbreviated will face different problems in different parts of Europe. For example it will face inflationary pressures in UK, France, and Germany, balance sheet expansion and demand challenges in Southern European countries, and geopolitical instability in the Eastern Europe.
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Stormfisher Abbreviated has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Organizational Development industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Stormfisher Abbreviated needs to keep up with the evolution of technology in the Organizational Development sector. According to Mckinsey study top managers believe that the adoption of technology in operations, communications is 20-25 times faster than what they planned in the beginning of 2019.
High level of anxiety and lack of motivation
– the Great Resignation in United States is the sign of broader dissatisfaction among the workforce in United States. Stormfisher Abbreviated needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Organizational Development industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Capital market disruption
– During the Covid-19, Dow Jones has touched record high. The valuations of a number of companies are way beyond their existing business model potential. This can lead to capital market correction which can put a number of suppliers, collaborators, value chain partners in great financial difficulty. It will directly impact the business of Stormfisher Abbreviated.
Environmental challenges
– Stormfisher Abbreviated needs to have a robust strategy against the disruptions arising from climate change and energy requirements. EU has identified it as key priority area and spending 30% of its 880 billion Euros European post Covid-19 recovery funds on green technology. Stormfisher Abbreviated can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Organizational Development industry.
Backlash against dominant players
– US Congress and other legislative arms of the government are getting tough on big business especially technology companies. The digital arm of Stormfisher Abbreviated business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Regulatory challenges
– Stormfisher Abbreviated needs to prepare for regulatory challenges as consumer protection groups and other pressure groups are vigorously advocating for more regulations on big business - to reduce inequality, to create a level playing field, to product data privacy and consumer privacy, to reduce the influence of big money on democratic institutions, etc. This can lead to significant changes in the Organizational Development industry regulations.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Stormfisher Abbreviated in the Organizational Development industry. The Organizational Development industry is already at various protected from local competition in China, with the rise of trade war the protection levels may go up. This presents a clear threat of current business model in Chinese market.
New competition
– After the dotcom bust of 2001, financial crisis of 2008-09, the business formation in US economy had declined. But in 2020 alone, there are more than 1.5 million new business applications in United States. This can lead to greater competition for Stormfisher Abbreviated in the Organizational Development sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Stormfisher Abbreviated demand
– There is a high probability of declining consumer confidence, given – high inflammation rate, rise of gig economy, lower job stability, increasing cost of living, higher interest rates, and aging demography. All the factors contribute to people saving higher rate of their income, resulting in lower consumer demand in the industry and other sectors.
Increasing wage structure of Stormfisher Abbreviated
– Post Covid-19 there is a sharp increase in the wages especially in the jobs that require interaction with people. The increasing wages can put downward pressure on the margins of Stormfisher Abbreviated.
Aging population
– As the populations of most advanced economies are aging, it will lead to high social security costs, higher savings among population, and lower demand for goods and services in the economy. The household savings in US, France, UK, Germany, and Japan are growing faster than predicted because of uncertainty caused by pandemic.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose Template, Example
Not all factors mentioned under the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats quadrants in the SWOT Analysis are equal. Managers in the HBR case study StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose needs to zero down on the relative importance of each factor mentioned in the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats quadrants.
We can provide the relative importance to each factor by assigning relative weights. Weighted SWOT analysis process is a three stage process –
First stage for doing weighted SWOT analysis of the case study StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose is to rank the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. This will help you to assess the most important strengths and weaknesses of the firm and which one of the strengths and weaknesses mentioned in the initial lists are marginal and can be left out.
Second stage for conducting weighted SWOT analysis of the Harvard case study StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose is to give probabilities to the external strategic factors thus better understanding the opportunities and threats arising out of macro environment changes and developments.
Third stage of constructing weighted SWOT analysis of StormFisher (B): Power with Purpose is to provide strategic recommendations includes – joining likelihood of external strategic factors such as opportunities and threats to the internal strategic factors – strengths and weaknesses. You should start with external factors as they will provide the direction of the overall industry. Secondly by joining probabilities with internal strategic factors can help the company not only strategic fit but also the most probably strategic trade-off that Stormfisher Abbreviated needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
