Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Strategy & Execution
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite
Three current and former C-suite executives of thriving global companies (Magna International, Research in Motion and Manulife Financial) discuss the challenges faced by their companies in establishing global operations and key lessons learned. They also discuss current opportunities, and look to what lies around the corner for companies seeking to expand beyond their national boundaries. In the end, they agree that the biggest risk of globalization is simple: not doing it.
Authors :: Don Walker, Don Morrison, Donald Guloien, Karen Christensen
Swot Analysis of "Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite" written by Don Walker, Don Morrison, Donald Guloien, Karen Christensen includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Suite Globalization facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Leadership, Strategy and Strategy & Execution.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite casestudy better are - – customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, increasing commodity prices, competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, technology disruption,
banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Suite Globalization, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Suite Globalization 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 Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Suite Globalization
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 Suite Globalization
Strengths Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Suite Globalization in Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite Harvard Business Review case study are -
Analytics focus
– Suite Globalization 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 Don Walker, Don Morrison, Donald Guloien, Karen Christensen 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.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Suite Globalization in the sector have low bargaining power. Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Suite Globalization to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Suite Globalization 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.
Innovation driven organization
– Suite Globalization is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Digital Transformation in Strategy & Execution segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Suite Globalization digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Suite Globalization has successfully integrated the four key components of digital transformation – digital integration in processes, digital integration in marketing and customer relationship management, digital integration into the value chain, and using technology to explore new products and market opportunities.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Suite Globalization in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Training and development
– Suite Globalization has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite 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.
High brand equity
– Suite Globalization has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Suite Globalization to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Suite Globalization is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite 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 Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite 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.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Suite Globalization 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 Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Diverse revenue streams
– Suite Globalization is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite 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 Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite are -
No frontier risks strategy
– After analyzing the HBR case study Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite, 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.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Suite Globalization is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Strategy & Execution segment. Suite Globalization needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Suite Globalization to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite, in the dynamic environment Suite Globalization has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Suite Globalization has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
High dependence on existing supply chain
– The disruption in the global supply chains because of the Covid-19 pandemic and blockage of the Suez Canal illustrated the fragile nature of Suite Globalization supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Suite Globalization vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite 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 Suite Globalization 's lucrative customers.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Suite Globalization is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
Interest costs
– Compare to the competition, Suite Globalization 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 decision making process
– As mentioned earlier in the report, Suite Globalization 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. Suite Globalization 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.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite, it seems that the employees of Suite Globalization 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.
Lack of clear differentiation of Suite Globalization products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Suite Globalization needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite, is just above the industry average. Suite Globalization 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.
Opportunities Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite | 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 Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite are -
Manufacturing automation
– Suite Globalization 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.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Suite Globalization can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Loyalty marketing
– Suite Globalization 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.
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 Suite Globalization in the consumer business. Now Suite Globalization can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Developing new processes and practices
– Suite Globalization 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.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Suite Globalization to increase its market reach. Suite Globalization 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.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Suite Globalization 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.
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. Suite Globalization 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. Suite Globalization 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.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Suite Globalization 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.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Suite Globalization 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.
Buying journey improvements
– Suite Globalization can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite suggest that firm can provide automated chats to help consumers solve their own problems, provide online suggestions to get maximum out of the products and services, and help consumers to build a community where they can interact with each other to develop new features and uses.
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. Suite Globalization can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Suite Globalization can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Suite Globalization operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Strategy & Execution sector.
Threats Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite are -
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 Suite Globalization business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Environmental challenges
– Suite Globalization 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. Suite Globalization can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Strategy & Execution industry.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Suite Globalization 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.
Increasing wage structure of Suite Globalization
– 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 Suite Globalization.
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Suite Globalization has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Strategy & Execution industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Suite Globalization 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.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Suite Globalization is facing in Strategy & Execution sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
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 Suite Globalization.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Suite Globalization demand
– There is a high probability of declining consumer confidence, given – high inflammation rate, rise of gig economy, lower job stability, increasing cost of living, higher interest rates, and aging demography. All the factors contribute to people saving higher rate of their income, resulting in lower consumer demand in the industry and other sectors.
Technology 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.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Suite Globalization 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.
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. Suite Globalization 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
– Suite Globalization 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.
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.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite 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 Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite 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 Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite 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 Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite 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 Leadership Forum: Globalization Lessons from the C-Suite 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 Suite Globalization needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.