Swot Analysis of "Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates" written by Mihir A. Desai, Kathleen Luchs, Alberto Moel includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Zelezny Mate facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, International business, Joint ventures, Negotiations, Risk management and Finance & Accounting.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates casestudy better are - – there is backlash against globalization, customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, geopolitical disruptions, wage bills are increasing, increasing energy prices, increasing transportation and logistics costs, there is increasing trade war between United States & China,
technology disruption, talent flight as more people leaving formal jobs, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Zelezny Mate, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Zelezny Mate 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 Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Zelezny Mate
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in Finance & Accounting field.
4. Making a Finance & Accounting topic specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Zelezny Mate
Strengths Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Zelezny Mate in Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates Harvard Business Review case study are -
Organizational Resilience of Zelezny Mate
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Zelezny Mate does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Successful track record of launching new products
– Zelezny Mate has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Zelezny Mate 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
– Zelezny Mate is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates 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.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Zelezny Mate is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Zelezny Mate 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 Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Training and development
– Zelezny Mate has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates Harvard Business Review case study by analyzing – employees retention, in-house promotion, loyalty, new venture initiation, lack of conflict, and high level of both employees and customer engagement.
Digital Transformation in Finance & Accounting segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Zelezny Mate digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Zelezny Mate 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.
Innovation driven organization
– Zelezny Mate is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates 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 Zelezny Mate 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.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Zelezny Mate in the sector have low bargaining power. Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Zelezny Mate to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Finance & Accounting industry
– Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Zelezny Mate to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Finance & Accounting industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Zelezny Mate to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Zelezny Mate in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Weaknesses Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates are -
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Zelezny Mate 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.
No frontier risks strategy
– After analyzing the HBR case study Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates, it seems that company is thinking about the frontier risks that can impact Finance & Accounting 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 Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates 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 Zelezny Mate 's lucrative customers.
High dependence on existing supply chain
– The disruption in the global supply chains because of the Covid-19 pandemic and blockage of the Suez Canal illustrated the fragile nature of Zelezny Mate supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Zelezny Mate vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates, in the dynamic environment Zelezny Mate has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Zelezny Mate has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Zelezny Mate has created an environment where the organization is dominated by functional specialists rather than management generalist. This has resulted into product oriented approach rather than marketing oriented approach or consumers oriented approach.
Lack of clear differentiation of Zelezny Mate products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Zelezny Mate needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates, it seems that the employees of Zelezny Mate 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.
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Zelezny Mate, firm in the HBR case study Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
Slow to strategic competitive environment developments
– As Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates HBR case study mentions - Zelezny Mate 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.
Interest costs
– Compare to the competition, Zelezny Mate 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.
Opportunities Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates | 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 Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates are -
Leveraging digital technologies
– Zelezny Mate 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.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Zelezny Mate 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 Finance & Accounting segment.
Reconfiguring business model
– The expansion of digital payment system, the bringing down of international transactions costs using Bitcoin and other blockchain based currencies, etc can help Zelezny Mate to reconfigure its entire business model. For example it can used blockchain based technologies to reduce piracy of its products in the big markets such as China. Secondly it can use the popularity of e-commerce in various developing markets to build a Direct to Customer business model rather than the current Channel Heavy distribution network.
Buying journey improvements
– Zelezny Mate can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates 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
– Zelezny Mate can use the latest technology developments to improve its manufacturing and designing process in Finance & Accounting 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.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of Zelezny Mate has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Zelezny Mate to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates case study. Zelezny Mate can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
Developing new processes and practices
– Zelezny Mate can develop new processes and procedures in Finance & Accounting 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.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Zelezny Mate 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.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Zelezny Mate 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, Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates, 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, Zelezny Mate is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates 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.
Finding new ways to collaborate
– Covid-19 has not only transformed business models of companies in Finance & Accounting industry, but it has also influenced the consumer preferences. Zelezny Mate can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Zelezny Mate 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.
Changes in consumer behavior post Covid-19
– Consumer behavior has changed in the Finance & Accounting industry because of Covid-19 restrictions. Some of this behavior will stay once things get back to normal. Zelezny Mate 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. Zelezny Mate 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.
Threats Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates are -
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.
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Zelezny Mate has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Finance & Accounting industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Zelezny Mate needs to keep up with the evolution of technology in the Finance & Accounting 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 dependence on third party suppliers
– Zelezny Mate 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.
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 Zelezny Mate.
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 Zelezny Mate business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
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 Zelezny Mate in the Finance & Accounting sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Zelezny Mate 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.
Easy access to finance
– Easy access to finance in Finance & Accounting field will also reduce the barriers to entry in the industry, thus putting downward pressure on the prices because of increasing competition. Zelezny Mate can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Zelezny Mate with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
Regulatory challenges
– Zelezny Mate 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 Finance & Accounting industry regulations.
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. Zelezny Mate 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.
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. Zelezny Mate needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Finance & Accounting industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates 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 Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates 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 Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates 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 Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates 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 Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B3)--Zelezny Negotiates 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 Zelezny Mate needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.