Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Strategy & Execution
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard
Illustrates the adaptation and implementation of a private sector management tool, the Balanced Scorecard, to a public school district. As part of a continuous improvement initiative, the Director of Planning and Policy facilitates the development of a strategy map and scorecard for the district. She then helps cascade the scoreboard down to individual school scorecards, and up to the school board, where it is used to monitor and guide the district's accomplishments. The implementation, however, hits some problems when the superintendent resigns, followed by high turnover among his replacements. Enables a discussion of the role of centralization versus decentralization in setting school objectives and accountability, issues that arise when introducing performance management into public school districts, and the role for leadership and governance in driving improvements in school achievement.
Swot Analysis of "Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard" written by Robert S. Kaplan, Monica Lee includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that School Scorecard facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, and Strategy & Execution.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard casestudy better are - – increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%, technology disruption, central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, wage bills are increasing, customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, geopolitical disruptions, increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings,
cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the School Scorecard, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which School Scorecard 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 Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of School Scorecard
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 School Scorecard
Strengths Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of School Scorecard in Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard Harvard Business Review case study are -
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– School Scorecard 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 Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard - 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 School Scorecard in the sector have low bargaining power. Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps School Scorecard to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Diverse revenue streams
– School Scorecard is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard 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.
Strong track record of project management
– School Scorecard is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
Training and development
– School Scorecard has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard 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.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of School Scorecard in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Ability to recruit top talent
– School Scorecard is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Analytics focus
– School Scorecard 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 S. Kaplan, Monica Lee 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.
Digital Transformation in Strategy & Execution segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For School Scorecard digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. School Scorecard 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.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Strategy & Execution industry
– Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled School Scorecard to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Strategy & Execution industry. The sustainable margins have also helped School Scorecard to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard Harvard Business Review case study comprises – understanding the underlying the factors in the industry, building diversified operations across different geographies so that disruption in one part of the world doesn’t impact the overall performance of the firm, and integrating the various business operations and processes through its digital transformation drive.
Innovation driven organization
– School Scorecard is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Weaknesses Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard are -
Slow to strategic competitive environment developments
– As Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard HBR case study mentions - School Scorecard 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.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard, it seems that the employees of School Scorecard 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.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at School Scorecard 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.
Slow decision making process
– As mentioned earlier in the report, School Scorecard 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. School Scorecard 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.
Products dominated business model
– Even though School Scorecard 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 - Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
Capital Spending Reduction
– Even during the low interest decade, School Scorecard 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.
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard, is just above the industry average. School Scorecard 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.
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, School Scorecard 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.
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of School Scorecard, firm in the HBR case study Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard 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 School Scorecard 's lucrative customers.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of School Scorecard is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Strategy & Execution segment. School Scorecard needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help School Scorecard to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
Opportunities Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard | 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 Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard are -
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at School Scorecard 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 Strategy & Execution segment.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, School Scorecard can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that School Scorecard operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Strategy & Execution sector.
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 School Scorecard in the consumer business. Now School Scorecard can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– School Scorecard has spent a significant amount of money and effort to integrate analytics and machine learning into its operations in the sector. This continuous investment in analytics has enabled, as illustrated in the Harvard case study Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help School Scorecard to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help School Scorecard to increase its market reach. School Scorecard 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.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects School Scorecard can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
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. School Scorecard can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of School Scorecard has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help School Scorecard to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard case study. School Scorecard 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
– School Scorecard 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.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for School Scorecard 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.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, School Scorecard is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard 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.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, School Scorecard 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, Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Loyalty marketing
– School Scorecard 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.
Threats Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard are -
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– School Scorecard 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.
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 School Scorecard in the Strategy & Execution sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Consumer confidence and its impact on School Scorecard 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.
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 School Scorecard business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Regulatory challenges
– School Scorecard 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 Strategy & Execution industry regulations.
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 School Scorecard.
Increasing wage structure of School Scorecard
– 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 School Scorecard.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents School Scorecard with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
Easy access to finance
– Easy access to finance in Strategy & Execution field will also reduce the barriers to entry in the industry, thus putting downward pressure on the prices because of increasing competition. School Scorecard can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
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. School Scorecard needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Strategy & Execution industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, School Scorecard 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 Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard .
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– School Scorecard has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Strategy & Execution industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, School Scorecard 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.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for School Scorecard 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.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard 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 Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard 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 Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard 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 Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard 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 Fulton County School System: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard 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 School Scorecard needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.