Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution

Case Study Description of Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development

Decisions about what types of assignments and clients to prioritize are essential for the strategic development of successful knowledge-intensive business service firms (KIBS-firms). Two important considerations that need to be addressed are: the degree to which clients are ready to be efficient co-producers of value and the opportunities for knowledge development available in client co-production processes. Based on experience and several empirical studies, identifies characteristics of assignments and clients that are positively related to knowledge development. These characteristics are: novel tasks with a high degree of customization; multi-disciplinary assignment teams; large assignments; time pressure (to the extent that the tasks are novel and creative); highly knowledgeable clients; and a high degree of client interaction.

Authors :: Tale Skjolsvik, Bente R. Lowendahl, Ragnhild Kvalshaugen, Siw M. Fosstenlokken

Topics :: Strategy & Execution

Tags :: Knowledge management, SWOT Analysis, SWOT Matrix, TOWS, Weighted SWOT Analysis

Swot Analysis of "Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development" written by Tale Skjolsvik, Bente R. Lowendahl, Ragnhild Kvalshaugen, Siw M. Fosstenlokken includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Assignments Knowledge facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Knowledge management and Strategy & Execution.

Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development casestudy better are - – there is increasing trade war between United States & China, cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, increasing transportation and logistics costs, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, increasing energy prices, geopolitical disruptions, increasing commodity prices, technology disruption, etc

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Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development

SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Assignments Knowledge, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Assignments Knowledge 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.

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SWOT Objectives / Importance of SWOT Analysis and SWOT Matrix

SWOT analysis of Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Assignments Knowledge
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 Assignments Knowledge

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Strengths Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The strengths of Assignments Knowledge in Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development Harvard Business Review case study are -

Innovation driven organization

– Assignments Knowledge is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.

Highly skilled collaborators

– Assignments Knowledge 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 Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.

Sustainable margins compare to other players in Strategy & Execution industry

– Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Assignments Knowledge to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Strategy & Execution industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Assignments Knowledge to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.

Cross disciplinary teams

– Horizontal connected teams at the Assignments Knowledge 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.

Ability to lead change in Strategy & Execution field

– Assignments Knowledge 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 Assignments Knowledge in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.

Ability to recruit top talent

– Assignments Knowledge is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development 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

– Assignments Knowledge 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 Tale Skjolsvik, Bente R. Lowendahl, Ragnhild Kvalshaugen, Siw M. Fosstenlokken 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.

Effective Research and Development (R&D)

– Assignments Knowledge 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 Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.

Digital Transformation in Strategy & Execution segment

- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Assignments Knowledge digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Assignments Knowledge 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 Assignments Knowledge in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.

Training and development

– Assignments Knowledge has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development Harvard Business Review case study by analyzing – employees retention, in-house promotion, loyalty, new venture initiation, lack of conflict, and high level of both employees and customer engagement.

Strong track record of project management

– Assignments Knowledge is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.

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Weaknesses Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The weaknesses of Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development are -

Slow to harness new channels of communication

– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Assignments Knowledge is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.

Increasing silos among functional specialists

– The organizational structure of Assignments Knowledge is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Strategy & Execution segment. Assignments Knowledge needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Assignments Knowledge to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.

High dependence on star products

– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development 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 Assignments Knowledge has relatively successful track record of launching new products.

Capital Spending Reduction

– Even during the low interest decade, Assignments Knowledge has not been able to do capital spending to the tune of the competition. This has resulted into fewer innovations and company facing stiff competition from both existing competitors and new entrants who are disrupting the industry using digital technology.

High dependence on 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 Assignments Knowledge supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Assignments Knowledge vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.

Interest costs

– Compare to the competition, Assignments Knowledge has borrowed money from the capital market at higher rates. It needs to restructure the interest payment and costs so that it can compete better and improve profitability.

No frontier risks strategy

– After analyzing the HBR case study Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development, 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 bargaining power of channel partners

– Because of the regulatory requirements, Tale Skjolsvik, Bente R. Lowendahl, Ragnhild Kvalshaugen, Siw M. Fosstenlokken suggests that, Assignments Knowledge is facing high bargaining power of the channel partners. So far it has not able to streamline the operations to reduce the bargaining power of the value chain partners in the industry.

Slow decision making process

– As mentioned earlier in the report, Assignments Knowledge 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. Assignments Knowledge 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.

High operating costs

– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development 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 Assignments Knowledge 's lucrative customers.

Skills based hiring

– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Assignments Knowledge 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.

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Opportunities Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development | 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 Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development are -

Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities

– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Assignments Knowledge 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 Assignments Knowledge to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.

Manufacturing automation

– Assignments Knowledge 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.

Learning at scale

– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Assignments Knowledge 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.

Lowering marketing communication costs

– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Assignments Knowledge 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.

Loyalty marketing

– Assignments Knowledge 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.

Leveraging digital technologies

– Assignments Knowledge 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.

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 Assignments Knowledge in the consumer business. Now Assignments Knowledge can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.

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. Assignments Knowledge 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. Assignments Knowledge 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.

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. Assignments Knowledge can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.

Developing new processes and practices

– Assignments Knowledge 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.

Low interest rates

– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Assignments Knowledge 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.

Creating value in data economy

– The success of analytics program of Assignments Knowledge has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Assignments Knowledge to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development case study. Assignments Knowledge can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.

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. Assignments Knowledge can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.

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Threats Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development are -

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. Assignments Knowledge 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.

Consumer confidence and its impact on Assignments Knowledge 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.

Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution

– Assignments Knowledge has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Strategy & Execution industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Assignments Knowledge 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 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. Assignments Knowledge needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Strategy & Execution industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.

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 Assignments Knowledge.

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 Assignments Knowledge 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.

Learning curve for new practices

– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development, Assignments Knowledge 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 .

Stagnating economy with rate increase

– Assignments Knowledge 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.

Barriers of entry lowering

– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Assignments Knowledge with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.

Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins

– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Assignments Knowledge 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 Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development .

Shortening product life cycle

– it is one of the major threat that Assignments Knowledge is facing in Strategy & Execution sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.

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 Assignments Knowledge business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.

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Weighted SWOT Analysis of Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development 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 Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development 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 Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development 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 Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development 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 Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development 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 Assignments Knowledge needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.

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