Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Strategy & Execution
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder
Examines the attempt of the Grove Foundation's Grove Scholars Program to promote access to vocational education and training as well as increase the esteem accorded to this education and career pathway. Initiated by former Intel chairman Andy Grove and his wife Eva Grove, the program aims to have a disproportionate impact in selected communities by providing high-profile scholarships to high school juniors, seniors, and community college students to pay for their vocational education and training at community colleges and other institutions. Key foundation personnel, including the Groves, consider how well they have been performing toward their mission.
Swot Analysis of "Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder" written by Robert A. Burgelman, Philip Meza includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Grove Vocational facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Social enterprise, Strategy and Strategy & Execution.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder casestudy better are - – wage bills are increasing, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , technology disruption, there is backlash against globalization, increasing commodity prices, competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy,
cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, increasing energy prices, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Grove Vocational, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Grove Vocational 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 Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Grove Vocational
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in Strategy & Execution field.
4. Making a Strategy & Execution topic specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Grove Vocational
Strengths Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Grove Vocational in Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder Harvard Business Review case study are -
Training and development
– Grove Vocational has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder 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.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Grove Vocational 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 Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Grove Vocational in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Grove Vocational in the sector have low bargaining power. Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Grove Vocational to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Grove Vocational 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 Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that Grove Vocational 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.
Analytics focus
– Grove Vocational 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 Robert A. Burgelman, Philip Meza 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.
Innovation driven organization
– Grove Vocational is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Ability to lead change in Strategy & Execution field
– Grove Vocational 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 Grove Vocational in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Diverse revenue streams
– Grove Vocational is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder 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.
Digital Transformation in Strategy & Execution segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Grove Vocational digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Grove Vocational 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.
High brand equity
– Grove Vocational has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Grove Vocational to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Weaknesses Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder are -
Lack of clear differentiation of Grove Vocational products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Grove Vocational needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Grove Vocational is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Strategy & Execution segment. Grove Vocational needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Grove Vocational to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
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 Grove Vocational supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Grove Vocational vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
High dependence on star products
– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder 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 Grove Vocational has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder 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 Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Grove Vocational is planning to shift buying processes online.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder, in the dynamic environment Grove Vocational has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Grove Vocational has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Grove Vocational, firm in the HBR case study Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Grove Vocational 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.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Grove Vocational is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
No frontier risks strategy
– After analyzing the HBR case study Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder, it seems that company is thinking about the frontier risks that can impact Strategy & Execution 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.
Need for greater diversity
– Grove Vocational has taken concrete steps on diversity, equity, and inclusion. But the efforts so far has resulted in limited success. It needs to expand the recruitment and selection process to hire more people from the minorities and underprivileged background.
Opportunities Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder | 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 Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder are -
Developing new processes and practices
– Grove Vocational can develop new processes and procedures in Strategy & Execution industry using technology such as automation using artificial intelligence, real time transportation and products tracking, 3D modeling for concept development and new products pilot testing etc.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Grove Vocational 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 Grove Vocational to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Grove Vocational can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Grove Vocational operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Strategy & Execution sector.
Buying journey improvements
– Grove Vocational can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder 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.
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. Grove Vocational can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Grove Vocational in the field of marketing communication. It will bring down the cost of doing business, provide technology platform to build new products in the Strategy & Execution segment, and it will provide faster access to the consumers.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Grove Vocational is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder 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, Grove Vocational 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.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Grove Vocational can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Grove Vocational to increase its market reach. Grove Vocational 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.
Changes in consumer behavior post Covid-19
– Consumer behavior has changed in the Strategy & Execution industry because of Covid-19 restrictions. Some of this behavior will stay once things get back to normal. Grove Vocational 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. Grove Vocational 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.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of Grove Vocational has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Grove Vocational to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder case study. Grove Vocational can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
Finding new ways to collaborate
– Covid-19 has not only transformed business models of companies in Strategy & Execution industry, but it has also influenced the consumer preferences. Grove Vocational can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
Threats Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder are -
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Grove Vocational has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Strategy & Execution industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Grove Vocational needs to keep up with the evolution of technology in the Strategy & Execution 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
– Grove Vocational 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.
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 Grove Vocational in the Strategy & Execution sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Increasing wage structure of Grove Vocational
– 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 Grove Vocational.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Grove Vocational 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 Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder .
Consumer confidence and its impact on Grove Vocational 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
– Grove Vocational 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. Grove Vocational can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Strategy & Execution industry.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Grove Vocational in the Strategy & Execution industry. The Strategy & Execution 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.
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.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Grove Vocational with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
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 Grove Vocational.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Grove Vocational is facing in Strategy & Execution sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder 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 Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder 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 Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder 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 Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder 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 Grove Scholars Program: Putting Rungs Back on the Ladder 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 Grove Vocational needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
