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Addons: Targeting Impulse SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution

Case Study Description of Addons: Targeting Impulse


Addons Retail Private Limited was incorporated in 2006 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The objective behind the venture was to sell lifestyle products and fashion accessories to cater to the impulsive buying urges of urban Indian men and women. The retail chain store sold a range of fashion accessories and products; competitors included both small mom-and-pop stores and kiosks as well as multinational chains. By summer 2014, the founder and director had painstakingly created 80 retail touch points in shopping malls and high streets in a range of cities across the country; his goal was to grow to 500 retail outlets by 2019. The company was on a rapid growth model, but it needed customer footfall and loyalty to support its aspirations. How could it achieve the fine balance between novelty and loyalty for a whimsical, impulse fashion product? Neena Sondhi is affiliated with International Management Institute. Supriya M. Kalla is affiliated with International Management Institute. Umashankar Venkatesh is affiliated with Great Lakes Institute of Management.

Authors :: Neena Sondhi, Supriya M. Kalla, Umashankar Venkatesh

Topics :: Sales & Marketing

Tags :: , SWOT Analysis, SWOT Matrix, TOWS, Weighted SWOT Analysis

Swot Analysis of "Addons: Targeting Impulse" written by Neena Sondhi, Supriya M. Kalla, Umashankar Venkatesh includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Addons Impulse facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Addons: Targeting Impulse case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, and Sales & Marketing.


Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Addons: Targeting Impulse casestudy better are - – talent flight as more people leaving formal jobs, geopolitical disruptions, competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, etc



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Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Addons: Targeting Impulse


SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Addons: Targeting Impulse case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Addons Impulse, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Addons Impulse 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 Addons: Targeting Impulse can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Addons: Targeting Impulse case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Addons Impulse
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in Sales & Marketing field.
4. Making a Sales & Marketing topic specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Addons Impulse




Strengths Addons: Targeting Impulse | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The strengths of Addons Impulse in Addons: Targeting Impulse Harvard Business Review case study are -

Analytics focus

– Addons Impulse 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 Neena Sondhi, Supriya M. Kalla, Umashankar Venkatesh 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.

Sustainable margins compare to other players in Sales & Marketing industry

– Addons: Targeting Impulse firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Addons Impulse to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Sales & Marketing industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Addons Impulse to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.

Highly skilled collaborators

– Addons Impulse 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 Addons: Targeting Impulse HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.

High brand equity

– Addons Impulse has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Addons Impulse to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.

Successful track record of launching new products

– Addons Impulse has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Addons Impulse 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.

Diverse revenue streams

– Addons Impulse is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Addons: Targeting Impulse 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.

Low bargaining power of suppliers

– Suppliers of Addons Impulse in the sector have low bargaining power. Addons: Targeting Impulse has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Addons Impulse to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.

Cross disciplinary teams

– Horizontal connected teams at the Addons Impulse 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.

Digital Transformation in Sales & Marketing segment

- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Addons Impulse digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Addons Impulse 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.

Ability to recruit top talent

– Addons Impulse is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Addons: Targeting Impulse are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.

Innovation driven organization

– Addons Impulse is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Addons: Targeting Impulse Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.

High switching costs

– The high switching costs that Addons Impulse 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.






Weaknesses Addons: Targeting Impulse | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The weaknesses of Addons: Targeting Impulse are -

Interest costs

– Compare to the competition, Addons Impulse 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.

Slow decision making process

– As mentioned earlier in the report, Addons Impulse 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. Addons Impulse 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.

Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy

– From the instances in the HBR case study Addons: Targeting Impulse, it seems that the employees of Addons Impulse 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.

Products dominated business model

– Even though Addons Impulse 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 - Addons: Targeting Impulse should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.

No frontier risks strategy

– After analyzing the HBR case study Addons: Targeting Impulse, it seems that company is thinking about the frontier risks that can impact Sales & Marketing 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.

Aligning sales with marketing

– It come across in the case study Addons: Targeting Impulse 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 Addons: Targeting Impulse can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Addons Impulse is planning to shift buying processes online.

Lack of clear differentiation of Addons Impulse products

– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Addons Impulse needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.

Workers concerns about automation

– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Addons Impulse 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.

High cash cycle compare to competitors

Addons Impulse 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.

Increasing silos among functional specialists

– The organizational structure of Addons Impulse is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Sales & Marketing segment. Addons Impulse needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Addons Impulse to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.

High dependence on star products

– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the Addons: Targeting Impulse 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 Addons Impulse has relatively successful track record of launching new products.




Opportunities Addons: Targeting Impulse | 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 Addons: Targeting Impulse are -

Buying journey improvements

– Addons Impulse can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Addons: Targeting Impulse 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

– Addons Impulse can use the latest technology developments to improve its manufacturing and designing process in Sales & Marketing 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.

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 Addons Impulse in the consumer business. Now Addons Impulse can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.

Better consumer reach

– The expansion of the 5G network will help Addons Impulse to increase its market reach. Addons Impulse 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.

Increase in government spending

– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Addons Impulse can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Addons Impulse operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Sales & Marketing sector.

Building a culture of innovation

– managers at Addons Impulse 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 Sales & Marketing segment.

Learning at scale

– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Addons Impulse 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.

Creating value in data economy

– The success of analytics program of Addons Impulse has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Addons Impulse to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Addons: Targeting Impulse case study. Addons Impulse can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.

Redefining models of collaboration and team work

– As explained in the weaknesses section, Addons Impulse is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Addons: Targeting Impulse 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.

Low interest rates

– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Addons Impulse can still utilize the low interest rates to borrow money for capital investment. Secondly it can also use the increase of government spending in infrastructure projects to get new business.

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. Addons Impulse can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.

Loyalty marketing

– Addons Impulse 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.

Developing new processes and practices

– Addons Impulse can develop new processes and procedures in Sales & Marketing 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.




Threats Addons: Targeting Impulse External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis


The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Addons: Targeting Impulse are -

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 Addons Impulse business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.

Barriers of entry lowering

– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Addons Impulse with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.

Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins

– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Addons Impulse 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 Addons: Targeting Impulse .

High dependence on third party suppliers

– Addons Impulse 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.

Increasing wage structure of Addons Impulse

– 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 Addons Impulse.

Trade war between China and United States

– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Addons Impulse in the Sales & Marketing industry. The Sales & Marketing industry is already at various protected from local competition in China, with the rise of trade war the protection levels may go up. This presents a clear threat of current business model in Chinese market.

New competition

– After the dotcom bust of 2001, financial crisis of 2008-09, the business formation in US economy had declined. But in 2020 alone, there are more than 1.5 million new business applications in United States. This can lead to greater competition for Addons Impulse in the Sales & Marketing 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. Addons Impulse needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Sales & Marketing industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.

Stagnating economy with rate increase

– Addons Impulse 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.

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.

Environmental challenges

– Addons Impulse 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. Addons Impulse can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Sales & Marketing industry.

Easy access to finance

– Easy access to finance in Sales & Marketing field will also reduce the barriers to entry in the industry, thus putting downward pressure on the prices because of increasing competition. Addons Impulse can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.

Regulatory challenges

– Addons Impulse 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 Sales & Marketing industry regulations.




Weighted SWOT Analysis of Addons: Targeting Impulse 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 Addons: Targeting Impulse 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 Addons: Targeting Impulse 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 Addons: Targeting Impulse 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 Addons: Targeting Impulse 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 Addons Impulse needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.



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