Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Organizational Development
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning
This is a Darden case study.How can executive education providers and purchasers best facilitate the transfer of program learning back to a participant's workplace setting? All too often, busy schedules, dealing with one crisis after another, and superseding priorities hinder such a transfer. This case is best used in a course where issues of education program design and/or adult learning are topics of interest. Similarly, it can also be a valuable addition to a course focusing on creating a learning organization and/or talent development.
Swot Analysis of "Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning" written by Mark E. Haskins includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Learning Participant's facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, and Organizational Development.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning casestudy better are - – there is increasing trade war between United States & China, customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, there is backlash against globalization, geopolitical disruptions, digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models,
wage bills are increasing, increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Learning Participant's, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Learning Participant's 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 Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Learning Participant's
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 Learning Participant's
Strengths Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Learning Participant's in Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning Harvard Business Review case study are -
Learning organization
- Learning Participant's 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 Learning Participant's is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Learning Participant's in the sector have low bargaining power. Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Learning Participant's to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
High brand equity
– Learning Participant's has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Learning Participant's to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that Learning Participant's 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.
Strong track record of project management
– Learning Participant's is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
Diverse revenue streams
– Learning Participant's is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning 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.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning 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
– Learning Participant's 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 Mark E. Haskins 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
– Learning Participant's is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Learning Participant's 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 Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Learning Participant's 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.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Learning Participant's 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 Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Weaknesses Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning are -
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Learning Participant's, firm in the HBR case study Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
Lack of clear differentiation of Learning Participant's products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Learning Participant's needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Learning Participant's is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
Capital Spending Reduction
– Even during the low interest decade, Learning Participant's 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.
High dependence on star products
– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning 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 Learning Participant's has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Learning Participant's 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.
Interest costs
– Compare to the competition, Learning Participant's has borrowed money from the capital market at higher rates. It needs to restructure the interest payment and costs so that it can compete better and improve profitability.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning 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 Learning Participant's 's lucrative customers.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning, in the dynamic environment Learning Participant's has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Learning Participant's has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Learning Participant's 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.
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Learning Participant's 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.
Opportunities Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning | 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 Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning are -
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Learning Participant's is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning 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.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Learning Participant's to conduct training and development for its employees across the world. This will result in not only reducing the cost of training but also help employees in different part of the world to integrate with the headquarter work culture, ethos, and standards.
Buying journey improvements
– Learning Participant's can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning 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
– Learning Participant's 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.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Learning Participant's 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 Learning Participant's 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. Learning Participant's can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Manufacturing automation
– Learning Participant's 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.
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. Learning Participant's 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. Learning Participant's 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.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Learning Participant's 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. Learning Participant's can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– Learning Participant's 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 Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Learning Participant's to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
Developing new processes and practices
– Learning Participant's 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.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Learning Participant's to increase its market reach. Learning Participant's 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.
Threats Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning are -
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 Learning Participant's in the Organizational Development sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
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. Learning Participant's needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Organizational Development industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Environmental challenges
– Learning Participant's 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. Learning Participant's 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 Learning Participant's business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Learning Participant's 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.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Learning Participant's 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 Learning Participant's with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
Regulatory challenges
– Learning Participant's 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.
High dependence on third party suppliers
– Learning Participant's 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.
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.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Learning Participant's is facing in Organizational Development sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Learning Participant's 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 Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning .
Increasing wage structure of Learning Participant's
– 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 Learning Participant's.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning 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 Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning 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 Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning 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 Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning 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 Mid-Atlantic Professional Development Center: Lengthening the Half-Life of Learning 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 Learning Participant's needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
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