Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Organizational Development
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future
Andreas Weber was selected as a high potential in a large German bank early in his career, and was posted on an international assignment to the USA. Over time, he progressed swiftly in the New York office. When he and his wife decided to return home after several years, headquarters was not able to find a position for him back in Germany that was requisite with his experience and skills. The case ends with Andreas wondering what he should do.
Swot Analysis of "Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future" written by Gunter Stahl, Mark Mendenhall includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Andreas Assignment facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, International business, Leadership development and Organizational Development.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future casestudy better are - – there is backlash against globalization, increasing energy prices, cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, talent flight as more people leaving formal jobs, increasing commodity prices, customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, increasing household debt because of falling income levels,
supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Andreas Assignment, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Andreas Assignment 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 Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Andreas Assignment
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 Andreas Assignment
Strengths Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Andreas Assignment in Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future Harvard Business Review case study are -
Highly skilled collaborators
– Andreas Assignment 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 Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Andreas Assignment in the sector have low bargaining power. Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Andreas Assignment to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that Andreas Assignment has built up over years in its products and services combo offer has resulted in high retention of customers, lower marketing costs, and greater ability of the firm to focus on its customers.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Organizational Development industry
– Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Andreas Assignment to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Organizational Development industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Andreas Assignment to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Learning organization
- Andreas Assignment 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 Andreas Assignment is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Andreas Assignment is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Organizational Resilience of Andreas Assignment
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Andreas Assignment does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Ability to lead change in Organizational Development field
– Andreas Assignment 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 Andreas Assignment in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Diverse revenue streams
– Andreas Assignment is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future case study a diverse revenue stream that has helped it to survive disruptions such as global pandemic in Covid-19, financial disruption of 2008, and supply chain disruption of 2021.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Andreas Assignment are driving operational speed, building greater agility, and keeping the organization nimble to compete with new competitors. It helps are organization to ideate new ideas, and execute them swiftly in the marketplace.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future 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.
Analytics focus
– Andreas Assignment 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 Gunter Stahl, Mark Mendenhall 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.
Weaknesses Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future are -
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Andreas Assignment 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.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future, it seems that the employees of Andreas Assignment 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.
Lack of clear differentiation of Andreas Assignment products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Andreas Assignment needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Andreas Assignment 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.
No frontier risks strategy
– After analyzing the HBR case study Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future, 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.
Products dominated business model
– Even though Andreas Assignment 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 - Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
Slow to strategic competitive environment developments
– As Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future HBR case study mentions - Andreas Assignment 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.
High dependence on star products
– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future 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 Andreas Assignment has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future 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 Andreas Assignment 's lucrative customers.
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future, is just above the industry average. Andreas Assignment 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.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Andreas Assignment is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
Opportunities Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future | 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 Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future are -
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Andreas Assignment 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 Andreas Assignment can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Finding new ways to collaborate
– Covid-19 has not only transformed business models of companies in Organizational Development industry, but it has also influenced the consumer preferences. Andreas Assignment can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
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. Andreas Assignment can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Buying journey improvements
– Andreas Assignment can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future 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.
Manufacturing automation
– Andreas Assignment 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.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Andreas Assignment to increase its market reach. Andreas Assignment 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.
Developing new processes and practices
– Andreas Assignment 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.
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. Andreas Assignment 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. Andreas Assignment 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.
Loyalty marketing
– Andreas Assignment has focused on building a highly responsive customer relationship management platform. This platform is built on in-house data and driven by analytics and artificial intelligence. The customer analytics can help the organization to fine tune its loyalty marketing efforts, increase the wallet share of the organization, reduce wastage on mainstream advertising spending, build better pricing strategies using personalization, etc.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Andreas Assignment can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Andreas Assignment operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Organizational Development sector.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of Andreas Assignment has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Andreas Assignment to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future case study. Andreas Assignment can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Andreas Assignment 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 Andreas Assignment to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
Threats Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future are -
Regulatory challenges
– Andreas Assignment 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.
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future, Andreas Assignment 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 .
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.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Andreas Assignment is facing in Organizational Development sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Andreas Assignment has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Organizational Development industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Andreas Assignment 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. Andreas Assignment needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Organizational Development industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Andreas Assignment 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.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Andreas Assignment with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
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. Andreas Assignment can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Andreas Assignment 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 Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future .
Environmental challenges
– Andreas Assignment 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. Andreas Assignment can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Organizational Development industry.
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. Andreas Assignment 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.
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 Andreas Assignment business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future 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 Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future 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 Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future 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 Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future 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 Andreas Weber's Reward for Success in an International Assignment (A): A Return to an Uncertain Future 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 Andreas Assignment needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
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