Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Strategy & Execution
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems
The author of the popular 2008 HBR article, 'Strategy as a Wicked Problem', argues that disruptive business models and wicked problems have de-linked the future from the past, making traditional strategic planning systems inadequate. He presents a tool that organizational strategists can use to face 'multiple possible futures' and 'chaotic ambiguity': feed-forward systems. By embracing this approach, he says, leaders can fashion a future that is unrelated to the past, driven by 'robust actions' and 'enablers' that can transform an organization and its context.
Swot Analysis of "Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems" written by John Camillus includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Wicked Feed facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Managing organizations, Marketing, Strategy and Strategy & Execution.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems casestudy better are - – competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, geopolitical disruptions, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, increasing energy prices, increasing transportation and logistics costs, there is backlash against globalization,
increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Wicked Feed, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Wicked Feed 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 Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Wicked Feed
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 Wicked Feed
Strengths Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Wicked Feed in Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems Harvard Business Review case study are -
High brand equity
– Wicked Feed has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Wicked Feed to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Successful track record of launching new products
– Wicked Feed has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Wicked Feed 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.
Ability to lead change in Strategy & Execution field
– Wicked Feed 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 Wicked Feed in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Analytics focus
– Wicked Feed 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 John Camillus 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
– Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Wicked Feed to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Strategy & Execution industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Wicked Feed to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Training and development
– Wicked Feed has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems Harvard Business Review case study by analyzing – employees retention, in-house promotion, loyalty, new venture initiation, lack of conflict, and high level of both employees and customer engagement.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Wicked Feed in the sector have low bargaining power. Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Wicked Feed to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Wicked Feed 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 Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Innovation driven organization
– Wicked Feed is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems 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.
Organizational Resilience of Wicked Feed
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Wicked Feed does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Learning organization
- Wicked Feed 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 Wicked Feed is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Weaknesses Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems are -
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems, is just above the industry average. Wicked Feed 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.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems 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 Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Wicked Feed is planning to shift buying processes online.
Lack of clear differentiation of Wicked Feed products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Wicked Feed needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
No frontier risks strategy
– After analyzing the HBR case study Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems, 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 Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems, it seems that the employees of Wicked Feed 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.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems 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 Wicked Feed 's lucrative customers.
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Wicked Feed 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.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems, in the dynamic environment Wicked Feed has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Wicked Feed has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
Slow decision making process
– As mentioned earlier in the report, Wicked Feed 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. Wicked Feed 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.
Interest costs
– Compare to the competition, Wicked Feed 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.
Slow to strategic competitive environment developments
– As Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems HBR case study mentions - Wicked Feed 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.
Opportunities Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems | 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 Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems are -
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Wicked Feed can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Wicked Feed is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems case study suggests that firm can utilize new technology to build more coordinated teams and streamline operations and communications using tools such as CAD, Zoom, etc.
Loyalty marketing
– Wicked Feed 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.
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– Wicked Feed 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 Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Wicked Feed to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Wicked Feed 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, Wicked Feed can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Wicked Feed operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Strategy & Execution sector.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Wicked Feed 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 Wicked Feed to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
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. Wicked Feed can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Manufacturing automation
– Wicked Feed 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.
Developing new processes and practices
– Wicked Feed 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.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Wicked Feed 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.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Wicked Feed to increase its market reach. Wicked Feed 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
– Wicked Feed 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 Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems are -
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. Wicked Feed can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
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.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Wicked Feed 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.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Wicked Feed is facing in Strategy & Execution sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
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 Wicked Feed 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.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Wicked Feed with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
Regulatory challenges
– Wicked Feed 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.
Environmental challenges
– Wicked Feed 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. Wicked Feed can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Strategy & Execution industry.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Wicked Feed 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 Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems .
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Wicked Feed has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Strategy & Execution industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Wicked Feed 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.
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 Wicked Feed business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Wicked Feed 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.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems 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 Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems 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 Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems 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 Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems 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 Feed-Forward Systems: Managing a Future Filled with Wicked Problems 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 Wicked Feed needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
