THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
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Case Study Description of THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant
Accompanied by product #PON244Two-party or two-team, multi-issue, integrative/distributive negotiation between representatives of a new low-cost airline and a potential headquarters city over an incentives package and airport facilities. Fresh Air, a new low-cost airline, is looking for a headquarters city. It is negotiating with the city of Boston, its top choice for a headquarters location, over an incentive package and airport facilities. Fresh Air plans to build on the brand reputation of its parent airline, which stands for innovation, fun, unparalleled customer service, and empowered employees. It believes that a unique corporate culture and happy customers will allow it to charge lower prices, to fill its planes, and to run profitable operations. Boston seeks to reinvent itself as a center of American business after years of business decline. The opening of a low-cost carrier would be an important part of this effort. However, in these tight fiscal times, Boston is limited financially. This is a role play case.
Swot Analysis of "THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant" written by Duncan MacLaren includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Boston Headquarters facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, IT, Negotiations, Operations management and Strategy & Execution.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant casestudy better are - – increasing transportation and logistics costs, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, there is backlash against globalization, competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, there is increasing trade war between United States & China,
increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Boston Headquarters, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Boston Headquarters 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 THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Boston Headquarters
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 Boston Headquarters
Strengths THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Boston Headquarters in THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant Harvard Business Review case study are -
Ability to lead change in Strategy & Execution field
– Boston Headquarters 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 Boston Headquarters in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Digital Transformation in Strategy & Execution segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Boston Headquarters digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Boston Headquarters 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.
Training and development
– Boston Headquarters has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant 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.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Boston Headquarters in the sector have low bargaining power. THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Boston Headquarters to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Boston Headquarters in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Diverse revenue streams
– Boston Headquarters is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant 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.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Strategy & Execution industry
– THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Boston Headquarters to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Strategy & Execution industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Boston Headquarters to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Boston Headquarters is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Learning organization
- Boston Headquarters 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 Boston Headquarters is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Boston Headquarters are driving operational speed, building greater agility, and keeping the organization nimble to compete with new competitors. It helps are organization to ideate new ideas, and execute them swiftly in the marketplace.
High brand equity
– Boston Headquarters has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Boston Headquarters to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Boston Headquarters 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 THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Weaknesses THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant are -
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Boston Headquarters 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.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Boston Headquarters is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Strategy & Execution segment. Boston Headquarters needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Boston Headquarters to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant, is just above the industry average. Boston Headquarters 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.
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Boston Headquarters, firm in the HBR case study THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
Need for greater diversity
– Boston Headquarters 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.
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 Boston Headquarters supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Boston Headquarters vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Boston Headquarters is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant 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 THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Boston Headquarters is planning to shift buying processes online.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant 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 Boston Headquarters 's lucrative customers.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant, it seems that the employees of Boston Headquarters 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.
Capital Spending Reduction
– Even during the low interest decade, Boston Headquarters 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.
Opportunities THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant | 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 THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant are -
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Boston Headquarters 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.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Boston Headquarters 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, THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Manufacturing automation
– Boston Headquarters 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.
Buying journey improvements
– Boston Headquarters can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant 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.
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 Boston Headquarters in the consumer business. Now Boston Headquarters can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Leveraging digital technologies
– Boston Headquarters can leverage digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate the production process, customer analytics to get better insights into consumer behavior, realtime digital dashboards to get better sales tracking, logistics and transportation, product tracking, etc.
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 Boston Headquarters 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.
Developing new processes and practices
– Boston Headquarters 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.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Boston Headquarters can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Boston Headquarters 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.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Boston Headquarters 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.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Boston Headquarters to increase its market reach. Boston Headquarters 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.
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. Boston Headquarters can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Threats THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant are -
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Boston Headquarters has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Strategy & Execution industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Boston Headquarters 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.
Regulatory challenges
– Boston Headquarters 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.
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.
High dependence on third party suppliers
– Boston Headquarters 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.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Boston Headquarters 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 THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant .
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant, Boston Headquarters 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 .
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. Boston Headquarters can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Boston Headquarters 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 Boston Headquarters.
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. Boston Headquarters 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.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Boston Headquarters 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.
Increasing wage structure of Boston Headquarters
– 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 Boston Headquarters.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Boston Headquarters 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 THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant 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 THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant 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 THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant 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 THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant 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 THE GE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT - Confidential Instructions for the Computer Systems Consultant 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 Boston Headquarters needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
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