Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Organizational Development
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B)
This is a Darden case study.With the assistance of a temporary graduate student, the director of corporate research uses multiattribute decision analysis to find a plan with greatly improved projected performance (see UV0528). The methodology for eliciting probabilities, assessing trade-offs and risk preferences, and finding the most desirable plan is detailed. (A follow-up case, which takes place four years later, is UV0531.)
Swot Analysis of "Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B)" written by Jeffrey L. McNair, Samuel E Bodily includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Study.with Uv0528 facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Budgeting, Decision making and Organizational Development.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) casestudy better are - – increasing household debt because of falling income levels, competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, there is backlash against globalization, increasing commodity prices, talent flight as more people leaving formal jobs,
increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B)
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Study.with Uv0528, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Study.with Uv0528 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 Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Study.with Uv0528
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 Study.with Uv0528
Strengths Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Study.with Uv0528 in Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) Harvard Business Review case study are -
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Study.with Uv0528 in the sector have low bargaining power. Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Study.with Uv0528 to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Diverse revenue streams
– Study.with Uv0528 is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) 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.
Organizational Resilience of Study.with Uv0528
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Study.with Uv0528 does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Innovation driven organization
– Study.with Uv0528 is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Study.with Uv0528 in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Study.with Uv0528 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 Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Study.with Uv0528 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 Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Study.with Uv0528 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.
Analytics focus
– Study.with Uv0528 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 Jeffrey L. McNair, Samuel E Bodily 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 recruit top talent
– Study.with Uv0528 is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Ability to lead change in Organizational Development field
– Study.with Uv0528 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 Study.with Uv0528 in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Digital Transformation in Organizational Development segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Study.with Uv0528 digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Study.with Uv0528 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.
Weaknesses Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) are -
Need for greater diversity
– Study.with Uv0528 has taken concrete steps on diversity, equity, and inclusion. But the efforts so far has resulted in limited success. It needs to expand the recruitment and selection process to hire more people from the minorities and underprivileged background.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B), it seems that the employees of Study.with Uv0528 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.
High bargaining power of channel partners
– Because of the regulatory requirements, Jeffrey L. McNair, Samuel E Bodily suggests that, Study.with Uv0528 is facing high bargaining power of the channel partners. So far it has not able to streamline the operations to reduce the bargaining power of the value chain partners in the industry.
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Study.with Uv0528, firm in the HBR case study Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) 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 Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Study.with Uv0528 is planning to shift buying processes online.
No frontier risks strategy
– After analyzing the HBR case study Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B), 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.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) 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 Study.with Uv0528 's lucrative customers.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Study.with Uv0528 is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Organizational Development segment. Study.with Uv0528 needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Study.with Uv0528 to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
Slow decision making process
– As mentioned earlier in the report, Study.with Uv0528 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. Study.with Uv0528 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.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Study.with Uv0528 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.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Study.with Uv0528 is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) 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 Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) | 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 Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) are -
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. Study.with Uv0528 can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Study.with Uv0528 can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Study.with Uv0528 operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Organizational Development sector.
Manufacturing automation
– Study.with Uv0528 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.
Leveraging digital technologies
– Study.with Uv0528 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.
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. Study.with Uv0528 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. Study.with Uv0528 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.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Study.with Uv0528 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
– Study.with Uv0528 can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) 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.
Developing new processes and practices
– Study.with Uv0528 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.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Study.with Uv0528 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 Study.with Uv0528 to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of Study.with Uv0528 has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Study.with Uv0528 to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) case study. Study.with Uv0528 can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
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 Study.with Uv0528 in the consumer business. Now Study.with Uv0528 can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Study.with Uv0528 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, Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B), to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Study.with Uv0528 is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) 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 Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) are -
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. Study.with Uv0528 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 Study.with Uv0528 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.
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.
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. Study.with Uv0528 needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Organizational Development industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Environmental challenges
– Study.with Uv0528 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. Study.with Uv0528 can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Organizational Development industry.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Study.with Uv0528 is facing in Organizational Development sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B), Study.with Uv0528 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 .
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Study.with Uv0528 with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
High dependence on third party suppliers
– Study.with Uv0528 high dependence on third party suppliers can disrupt its processes and delivery mechanism. For example -the current troubles of car makers because of chip shortage is because the chip companies started producing chips for electronic companies rather than car manufacturers.
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 Study.with Uv0528 business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Study.with Uv0528 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 Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) .
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 Study.with Uv0528.
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.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) 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 Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) 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 Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) 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 Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) 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 Whirlpool Research and Engineering Division (B) 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 Study.with Uv0528 needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
