Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Sales & Marketing
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less
Supplement to case W16649. Somnath Chakrabarti is affiliated with Indian Institute of Management Kashipur. B. S. Kiran is affiliated with Indian Institute of Management Kashipur.
Swot Analysis of "Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less" written by Somnath Chakrabarti, B. S. Kiran includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Kashipur W16649 facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Customers, International business, Leadership, Organizational culture, Project management and Sales & Marketing.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less casestudy better are - – technology disruption, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, increasing commodity prices, there is increasing trade war between United States & China, there is backlash against globalization, increasing transportation and logistics costs, geopolitical disruptions,
increasing energy prices, competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Kashipur W16649, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Kashipur W16649 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 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Kashipur W16649
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 Kashipur W16649
Strengths Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Kashipur W16649 in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less Harvard Business Review case study are -
Ability to recruit top talent
– Kashipur W16649 is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Training and development
– Kashipur W16649 has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less 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.
Strong track record of project management
– Kashipur W16649 is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that Kashipur W16649 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.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Kashipur W16649 in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
High brand equity
– Kashipur W16649 has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Kashipur W16649 to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Ability to lead change in Sales & Marketing field
– Kashipur W16649 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 Kashipur W16649 in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Kashipur W16649 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 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Kashipur W16649 in the sector have low bargaining power. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Kashipur W16649 to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Sales & Marketing industry
– Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Kashipur W16649 to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Sales & Marketing industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Kashipur W16649 to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Organizational Resilience of Kashipur W16649
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Kashipur W16649 does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Learning organization
- Kashipur W16649 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 Kashipur W16649 is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Weaknesses Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less are -
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less 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 Kashipur W16649 's lucrative customers.
Lack of clear differentiation of Kashipur W16649 products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Kashipur W16649 needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Kashipur W16649, firm in the HBR case study Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less 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 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Kashipur W16649 is planning to shift buying processes online.
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less, is just above the industry average. Kashipur W16649 needs to redesign the compensation structure and incentives to increase the revenue per employees. Some of the steps that it can take are – hiring more specialists on project basis, etc.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Kashipur W16649 is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Sales & Marketing segment. Kashipur W16649 needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Kashipur W16649 to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Kashipur W16649 is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential 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 Kashipur W16649 supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Kashipur W16649 vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
Products dominated business model
– Even though Kashipur W16649 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 - Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
Capital Spending Reduction
– Even during the low interest decade, Kashipur W16649 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 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less 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 Kashipur W16649 has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
Opportunities Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less | 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 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less are -
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 Kashipur W16649 in the consumer business. Now Kashipur W16649 can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Kashipur W16649 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.
Developing new processes and practices
– Kashipur W16649 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.
Finding new ways to collaborate
– Covid-19 has not only transformed business models of companies in Sales & Marketing industry, but it has also influenced the consumer preferences. Kashipur W16649 can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Kashipur W16649 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.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Kashipur W16649 to increase its market reach. Kashipur W16649 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.
Manufacturing automation
– Kashipur W16649 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.
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. Kashipur W16649 can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Kashipur W16649 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, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
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 Kashipur W16649 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.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Kashipur W16649 in the field of marketing communication. It will bring down the cost of doing business, provide technology platform to build new products in the Sales & Marketing segment, and it will provide faster access to the consumers.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Kashipur W16649 can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Kashipur W16649 operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Sales & Marketing sector.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Kashipur W16649 can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Threats Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less are -
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.
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 Kashipur W16649.
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. Kashipur W16649 needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Sales & Marketing industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Kashipur W16649 is facing in Sales & Marketing 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, Kashipur W16649 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 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less .
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 Kashipur W16649 in the Sales & Marketing sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Increasing wage structure of Kashipur W16649
– 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 Kashipur W16649.
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. Kashipur W16649 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.
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Kashipur W16649 has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Sales & Marketing industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Kashipur W16649 needs to keep up with the evolution of technology in the Sales & Marketing 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.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Kashipur W16649 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.
Environmental challenges
– Kashipur W16649 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. Kashipur W16649 can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Sales & Marketing industry.
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less, Kashipur W16649 may face longer learning curve for training and development of existing employees. This can open space for more nimble competitors in the field of Sales & Marketing .
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. Kashipur W16649 can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less 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 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less 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 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less 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 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less 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 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (B): Doing More with Less 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 Kashipur W16649 needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.