Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Strategy & Execution
Strategy / MBA Resources
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
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 - – increasing commodity prices, wage bills are increasing, central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, there is backlash against globalization, digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, increasing transportation and logistics costs, increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%,
challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, etc
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.
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
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 -
Successful track record of launching new products
– Assignments Knowledge has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Assignments Knowledge 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.
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 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.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Assignments Knowledge in the sector have low bargaining power. Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Assignments Knowledge to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Diverse revenue streams
– Assignments Knowledge is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development 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.
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.
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.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development 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.
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.
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.
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.
Organizational Resilience of Assignments Knowledge
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Assignments Knowledge does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
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 -
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.
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.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development, it seems that the employees of Assignments Knowledge 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.
Slow to strategic competitive environment developments
– As Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development HBR case study mentions - Assignments Knowledge 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.
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.
Need for greater diversity
– Assignments Knowledge 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.
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development, is just above the industry average. Assignments Knowledge 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.
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.
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Assignments Knowledge 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.
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.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development, in the dynamic environment Assignments Knowledge has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Assignments Knowledge has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
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 -
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Assignments Knowledge 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, Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
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.
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– Assignments Knowledge 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 Choosing to Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies for Client Co-Production and Knowledge Development - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Assignments Knowledge to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
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.
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.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Assignments Knowledge to increase its market reach. Assignments Knowledge 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Assignments Knowledge can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Assignments Knowledge operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Strategy & Execution sector.
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.
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.
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 -
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.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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 dependence on third party suppliers
– Assignments Knowledge 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.
Regulatory challenges
– Assignments Knowledge 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.
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 .
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.
Increasing wage structure of Assignments Knowledge
– 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 Assignments Knowledge.
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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