Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Strategy & Execution
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy
In January 2000, when the Internet boom was sweeping Hong Kong, Nelson Siu and a few friends started a recruitment Web site called Go2xpert. After the Internet bubble burst, Siu and his colleagues changed their business strategy. They saw an opportunity in the niche market of helping Hong Kong companies recruit mainland Chinese professionals. However, Siu soon found himself in a business cul-de-sac doing that type of business, primarily due to complicated immigration procedures and requirements for mainland professionals relocating to Hong Kong. They had to change strategy again, but in which direction? Illustrates how Hong Kong SME entrepreneurs can find the right opportunities offered by the Chinese market. Sheds light on how SMEs need to change their strategy, manage their operations, and market their business to make the best use of a rapidly changing business environment.
Swot Analysis of "Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy" written by Ali Simon Lam, Vincent Mak, Pauline Ng includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Siu Go2xpert facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Corporate governance, Entrepreneurial management, Marketing, Strategy and Strategy & Execution.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy casestudy better are - – geopolitical disruptions, increasing transportation and logistics costs, digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, there is backlash against globalization,
increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Siu Go2xpert, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Siu Go2xpert 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 Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Siu Go2xpert
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 Siu Go2xpert
Strengths Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Siu Go2xpert in Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy Harvard Business Review case study are -
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Siu Go2xpert in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Diverse revenue streams
– Siu Go2xpert is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy 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.
Ability to lead change in Strategy & Execution field
– Siu Go2xpert 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 Siu Go2xpert in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Learning organization
- Siu Go2xpert 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 Siu Go2xpert is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Siu Go2xpert 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.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Strategy & Execution industry
– Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Siu Go2xpert to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Strategy & Execution industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Siu Go2xpert to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Siu Go2xpert is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that Siu Go2xpert has built up over years in its products and services combo offer has resulted in high retention of customers, lower marketing costs, and greater ability of the firm to focus on its customers.
Organizational Resilience of Siu Go2xpert
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Siu Go2xpert does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Digital Transformation in Strategy & Execution segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Siu Go2xpert digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Siu Go2xpert 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.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Siu Go2xpert 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 Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy 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.
Weaknesses Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy are -
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Siu Go2xpert, firm in the HBR case study Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
Products dominated business model
– Even though Siu Go2xpert 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 - Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Siu Go2xpert 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.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy, it seems that the employees of Siu Go2xpert 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 Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy HBR case study mentions - Siu Go2xpert 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.
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Siu Go2xpert 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.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Siu Go2xpert is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Siu Go2xpert 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 Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy 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 Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Siu Go2xpert is planning to shift buying processes online.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy 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 Siu Go2xpert 's lucrative customers.
Need for greater diversity
– Siu Go2xpert 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.
Opportunities Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy | 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 Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy are -
Developing new processes and practices
– Siu Go2xpert 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.
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. Siu Go2xpert can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Leveraging digital technologies
– Siu Go2xpert 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 Siu Go2xpert 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.
Manufacturing automation
– Siu Go2xpert can use the latest technology developments to improve its manufacturing and designing process in Strategy & Execution segment. It can use CAD and 3D printing to build a quick prototype and pilot testing products. It can leverage automation using machine learning and artificial intelligence to do faster production at lowers costs, and it can leverage the growth in satellite and tracking technologies to improve inventory management, transportation, and shipping.
Changes in consumer behavior post Covid-19
– Consumer behavior has changed in the Strategy & Execution industry because of Covid-19 restrictions. Some of this behavior will stay once things get back to normal. Siu Go2xpert 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. Siu Go2xpert 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.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Siu Go2xpert 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.
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– Siu Go2xpert 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 Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Siu Go2xpert to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
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 Siu Go2xpert in the consumer business. Now Siu Go2xpert can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Siu Go2xpert 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 Siu Go2xpert 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. Siu Go2xpert can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of Siu Go2xpert has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Siu Go2xpert to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy case study. Siu Go2xpert can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Siu Go2xpert 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.
Threats Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy are -
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy, Siu Go2xpert 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 .
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.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Siu Go2xpert 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 Siu Go2xpert.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Siu Go2xpert is facing in Strategy & Execution sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
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.
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 Siu Go2xpert business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
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. Siu Go2xpert 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.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Siu Go2xpert 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, Siu Go2xpert 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 Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy .
Environmental challenges
– Siu Go2xpert needs to have a robust strategy against the disruptions arising from climate change and energy requirements. EU has identified it as key priority area and spending 30% of its 880 billion Euros European post Covid-19 recovery funds on green technology. Siu Go2xpert can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Strategy & Execution industry.
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. Siu Go2xpert needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Strategy & Execution industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
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. Siu Go2xpert 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 Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy 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 Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy 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 Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy 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 Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy 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 Go2xpert Ltd.: Finding the Right China Strategy 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 Siu Go2xpert needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.