Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Strategy & Execution
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A)
Research in Motion is an integrated, wireless solutions provider. The director of strategic alliances is excited about completing his first major acquisition for the company. After a successful presentation to senior managers, the company has agreed to go ahead with the acquisition. The director must meet with the CEO to have the letter of intent signed and present the offer to Slangsoft.
Swot Analysis of "Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A)" written by Roderick E. White, Ken Mark includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Slangsoft Motion facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Joint ventures, Mergers & acquisitions, Project management and Strategy & Execution.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) casestudy better are - – supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, there is backlash against globalization, wage bills are increasing, cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models,
increasing transportation and logistics costs, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A)
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Slangsoft Motion, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Slangsoft Motion 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 Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Slangsoft Motion
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 Slangsoft Motion
Strengths Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Slangsoft Motion in Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) Harvard Business Review case study are -
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Slangsoft Motion 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 Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Slangsoft Motion in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Strong track record of project management
– Slangsoft Motion 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
- Slangsoft Motion 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 Slangsoft Motion is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
High brand equity
– Slangsoft Motion has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Slangsoft Motion to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Slangsoft Motion is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) 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.
Ability to lead change in Strategy & Execution field
– Slangsoft Motion 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 Slangsoft Motion in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Organizational Resilience of Slangsoft Motion
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Slangsoft Motion does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Slangsoft Motion in the sector have low bargaining power. Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Slangsoft Motion to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Digital Transformation in Strategy & Execution segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Slangsoft Motion digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Slangsoft Motion 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.
Diverse revenue streams
– Slangsoft Motion is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) 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.
Weaknesses Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) are -
Slow to strategic competitive environment developments
– As Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) HBR case study mentions - Slangsoft Motion 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.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Slangsoft Motion is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Strategy & Execution segment. Slangsoft Motion needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Slangsoft Motion to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Slangsoft Motion 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.
No frontier risks strategy
– After analyzing the HBR case study Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A), 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.
Products dominated business model
– Even though Slangsoft Motion 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 - Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Slangsoft Motion, firm in the HBR case study Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
Lack of clear differentiation of Slangsoft Motion products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Slangsoft Motion needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Slangsoft Motion 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.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) 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 Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Slangsoft Motion is planning to shift buying processes online.
Need for greater diversity
– Slangsoft Motion 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.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Slangsoft Motion is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
Opportunities Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) | 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 Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) are -
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Slangsoft Motion to increase its market reach. Slangsoft Motion 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.
Leveraging digital technologies
– Slangsoft Motion 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.
Developing new processes and practices
– Slangsoft Motion can develop new processes and procedures in Strategy & Execution industry using technology such as automation using artificial intelligence, real time transportation and products tracking, 3D modeling for concept development and new products pilot testing etc.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Slangsoft Motion 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.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Slangsoft Motion 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, Slangsoft Motion can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Slangsoft Motion operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Strategy & Execution sector.
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. Slangsoft Motion 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. Slangsoft Motion 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.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Slangsoft Motion 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.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of Slangsoft Motion has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Slangsoft Motion to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) case study. Slangsoft Motion can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Slangsoft Motion can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Manufacturing automation
– Slangsoft Motion 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.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Slangsoft Motion 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 Slangsoft Motion to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
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 Slangsoft Motion in the consumer business. Now Slangsoft Motion can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Threats Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) are -
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.
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 Slangsoft Motion.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Slangsoft Motion 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 Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) .
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. Slangsoft Motion needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Strategy & Execution industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
High dependence on third party suppliers
– Slangsoft Motion 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.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Slangsoft Motion 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.
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.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Slangsoft Motion is facing in Strategy & Execution sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Slangsoft Motion 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.
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 Slangsoft Motion in the Strategy & Execution sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Regulatory challenges
– Slangsoft Motion 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.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Slangsoft Motion 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.
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. Slangsoft Motion can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) 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 Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) 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 Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) 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 Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) 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 Research in Motion: The Acquisition of Slangsoft (A) 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 Slangsoft Motion needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.