Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Strategy & Execution
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency
John Pinkerton, CEO of natural gas company Range Resources, must consider supporting or condemning a new bill passed by Congress that could add more regulations to one of Range's most effective mining methods: fracking. Pinkerton must consider the benefits and costs of supporting or condemning the new legislation and how it will impact his company.
Swot Analysis of "Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency" written by Steven Percy includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Condemning Pinkerton facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, and Strategy & Execution.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency casestudy better are - – geopolitical disruptions, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, talent flight as more people leaving formal jobs, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , increasing energy prices,
challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, technology disruption, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Condemning Pinkerton, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Condemning Pinkerton 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 Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Condemning Pinkerton
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 Condemning Pinkerton
Strengths Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Condemning Pinkerton in Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency Harvard Business Review case study are -
Successful track record of launching new products
– Condemning Pinkerton has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Condemning Pinkerton 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.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that Condemning Pinkerton 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.
Diverse revenue streams
– Condemning Pinkerton is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency 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.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Condemning Pinkerton 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 Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Condemning Pinkerton in the sector have low bargaining power. Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Condemning Pinkerton to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Strong track record of project management
– Condemning Pinkerton is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
Learning organization
- Condemning Pinkerton 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 Condemning Pinkerton is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Innovation driven organization
– Condemning Pinkerton is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Digital Transformation in Strategy & Execution segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Condemning Pinkerton digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Condemning Pinkerton 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.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Condemning Pinkerton in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Strategy & Execution industry
– Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Condemning Pinkerton to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Strategy & Execution industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Condemning Pinkerton to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
High brand equity
– Condemning Pinkerton has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Condemning Pinkerton to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Weaknesses Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency are -
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency, in the dynamic environment Condemning Pinkerton has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Condemning Pinkerton 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 Condemning Pinkerton, firm in the HBR case study Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
Products dominated business model
– Even though Condemning Pinkerton 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 - Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Condemning Pinkerton is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
Capital Spending Reduction
– Even during the low interest decade, Condemning Pinkerton 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 cash cycle compare to competitors
Condemning Pinkerton 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.
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 Condemning Pinkerton supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Condemning Pinkerton vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency, it seems that the employees of Condemning Pinkerton 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.
No frontier risks strategy
– After analyzing the HBR case study Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency, 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.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency 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 Condemning Pinkerton 's lucrative customers.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Condemning Pinkerton 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.
Opportunities Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency | 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 Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency are -
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. Condemning Pinkerton can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
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 Condemning Pinkerton in the consumer business. Now Condemning Pinkerton can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– Condemning Pinkerton 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 Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Condemning Pinkerton to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
Loyalty marketing
– Condemning Pinkerton 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.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Condemning Pinkerton 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.
Manufacturing automation
– Condemning Pinkerton can use the latest technology developments to improve its manufacturing and designing process in Strategy & Execution 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.
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. Condemning Pinkerton 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. Condemning Pinkerton 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.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Condemning Pinkerton 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 Condemning Pinkerton to increase its market reach. Condemning Pinkerton 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.
Buying journey improvements
– Condemning Pinkerton can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency 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. Condemning Pinkerton can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Condemning Pinkerton is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency 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, Condemning Pinkerton 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, Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Threats Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency are -
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Condemning Pinkerton has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Strategy & Execution industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Condemning Pinkerton 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.
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 Condemning Pinkerton in the Strategy & Execution sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
High dependence on third party suppliers
– Condemning Pinkerton 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.
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. Condemning Pinkerton can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency, Condemning Pinkerton may face longer learning curve for training and development of existing employees. This can open space for more nimble competitors in the field of Strategy & Execution .
Increasing wage structure of Condemning Pinkerton
– 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 Condemning Pinkerton.
Regulatory challenges
– Condemning Pinkerton 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 Condemning Pinkerton.
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.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Condemning Pinkerton 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.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Condemning Pinkerton 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.
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. Condemning Pinkerton 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.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency 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 Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency 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 Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency 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 Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency 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 Range Resources: A Commitment to Transparency 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 Condemning Pinkerton needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
