Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Organizational Development
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team
When students have the English-language PDF of this Brief Case in a coursepack, they will also have the option to purchase an audio version.Key topics include designing teams, managing teams, managing conflict, group dynamics, project management, product development, interdepartmental relations, and organizational change. MediSys, a U.S.-based medical equipment maker, has been developing IntensCare, a new medical system for monitoring intensive-care patients. MediSys has invested heavily in IntensCare, which is eagerly awaited by the market. The product development team, representing several functional areas of the company, has been working on the product for six months but is now running into significant problems with the product design, the schedule, and their own group dynamics. Recently, pressure increased when they learned that two more powerful competitors had begun work on their own products for this market. Several team members are concerned about meeting the team's targets. Struggling especially hard to overcome the various problems is the marketing manager who has profit-and-loss responsibility for IntensCare.
Swot Analysis of "Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team" written by Anne Donnellon, Joshua D. Margolis includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Intenscare Medisys facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Communication, Conflict, Leadership, Organizational culture, Product development, Project management and Organizational Development.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team casestudy better are - – there is backlash against globalization, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, wage bills are increasing, there is increasing trade war between United States & China, increasing energy prices,
increasing transportation and logistics costs, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Intenscare Medisys, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Intenscare Medisys 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 Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Intenscare Medisys
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 Intenscare Medisys
Strengths Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Intenscare Medisys in Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team Harvard Business Review case study are -
Highly skilled collaborators
– Intenscare Medisys 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 Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Organizational Development industry
– Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Intenscare Medisys to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Organizational Development industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Intenscare Medisys to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Digital Transformation in Organizational Development segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Intenscare Medisys digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Intenscare Medisys has successfully integrated the four key components of digital transformation – digital integration in processes, digital integration in marketing and customer relationship management, digital integration into the value chain, and using technology to explore new products and market opportunities.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Intenscare Medisys in the sector have low bargaining power. Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Intenscare Medisys to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
High brand equity
– Intenscare Medisys has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Intenscare Medisys to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Innovation driven organization
– Intenscare Medisys is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Training and development
– Intenscare Medisys has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team 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
– Intenscare Medisys 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 Anne Donnellon, Joshua D. Margolis 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.
Ability to lead change in Organizational Development field
– Intenscare Medisys 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 Intenscare Medisys in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team 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.
Successful track record of launching new products
– Intenscare Medisys has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Intenscare Medisys has effective processes in place that helps in exploring new product needs, doing quick pilot testing, and then launching the products quickly using its extensive distribution network.
Organizational Resilience of Intenscare Medisys
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Intenscare Medisys does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Weaknesses Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team are -
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team that the firm needs to have more collaboration between its sales team and marketing team. Sales professionals in the industry have deep experience in developing customer relationships. Marketing department in the case Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Intenscare Medisys is planning to shift buying processes online.
No frontier risks strategy
– After analyzing the HBR case study Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team, it seems that company is thinking about the frontier risks that can impact Organizational Development strategy. But it has very little resources allocation to manage the risks emerging from events such as natural disasters, climate change, melting of permafrost, tacking the rise of artificial intelligence, opportunities and threats emerging from commercialization of space etc.
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team, is just above the industry average. Intenscare Medisys needs to redesign the compensation structure and incentives to increase the revenue per employees. Some of the steps that it can take are – hiring more specialists on project basis, etc.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team 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 Intenscare Medisys 's lucrative customers.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Intenscare Medisys has created an environment where the organization is dominated by functional specialists rather than management generalist. This has resulted into product oriented approach rather than marketing oriented approach or consumers oriented approach.
Lack of clear differentiation of Intenscare Medisys products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Intenscare Medisys needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team, it seems that the employees of Intenscare Medisys 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.
Capital Spending Reduction
– Even during the low interest decade, Intenscare Medisys has not been able to do capital spending to the tune of the competition. This has resulted into fewer innovations and company facing stiff competition from both existing competitors and new entrants who are disrupting the industry using digital technology.
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Intenscare Medisys, firm in the HBR case study Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Intenscare Medisys is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Organizational Development segment. Intenscare Medisys needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Intenscare Medisys to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
Slow to strategic competitive environment developments
– As Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team HBR case study mentions - Intenscare Medisys 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 Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team | 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 Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team are -
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Intenscare Medisys 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, Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Intenscare Medisys to increase its market reach. Intenscare Medisys 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.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Intenscare Medisys to expand its talent hiring zone. According to McKinsey Global Institute, 20% of the high end workforce in fields such as finance, information technology, can continously work from remote local post Covid-19. This presents a really great opportunity for Intenscare Medisys to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
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. Intenscare Medisys can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Developing new processes and practices
– Intenscare Medisys 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.
Manufacturing automation
– Intenscare Medisys 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.
Reconfiguring business model
– The expansion of digital payment system, the bringing down of international transactions costs using Bitcoin and other blockchain based currencies, etc can help Intenscare Medisys to reconfigure its entire business model. For example it can used blockchain based technologies to reduce piracy of its products in the big markets such as China. Secondly it can use the popularity of e-commerce in various developing markets to build a Direct to Customer business model rather than the current Channel Heavy distribution network.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Intenscare Medisys can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– Intenscare Medisys 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 Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Intenscare Medisys to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Intenscare Medisys 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.
Buying journey improvements
– Intenscare Medisys can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team suggest that firm can provide automated chats to help consumers solve their own problems, provide online suggestions to get maximum out of the products and services, and help consumers to build a community where they can interact with each other to develop new features and uses.
Leveraging digital technologies
– Intenscare Medisys 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.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Intenscare Medisys is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team case study suggests that firm can utilize new technology to build more coordinated teams and streamline operations and communications using tools such as CAD, Zoom, etc.
Threats Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team are -
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team, Intenscare Medisys may face longer learning curve for training and development of existing employees. This can open space for more nimble competitors in the field of Organizational Development .
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Intenscare Medisys is facing in Organizational Development sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Increasing wage structure of Intenscare Medisys
– 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 Intenscare Medisys.
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. Intenscare Medisys 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.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Intenscare Medisys 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.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Intenscare Medisys can face lack of demand in the market place because of Fed actions to reduce inflation. This can lead to sluggish growth in the economy, lower demands, lower investments, higher borrowing costs, and consolidation in the field.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Intenscare Medisys 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.
Easy access to finance
– Easy access to finance in Organizational Development field will also reduce the barriers to entry in the industry, thus putting downward pressure on the prices because of increasing competition. Intenscare Medisys can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
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 Intenscare Medisys business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
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 Intenscare Medisys.
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Intenscare Medisys has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Organizational Development industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Intenscare Medisys 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.
Regulatory challenges
– Intenscare Medisys 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.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Intenscare Medisys can face downward pressure on margins from increasing competition from international players. The international players have stable revenue in their home market and can use those resources to penetrate prominent markets illustrated in HBR case study Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team .
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team 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 Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team 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 Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team 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 Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team 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 Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team 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 Intenscare Medisys needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
