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Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution

Case Study Description of Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network


The first in a five-part series about Bell Atlantic Corp.'s technology-in-education partnership with the Union City, New Jersey school system. Provides an overview of the telecommunications industry in general and Bell Atlantic in particular, with special attention to technology trends and developments, the changing marketplace, regulatory issues, heightened merger activity, and strategy and leadership within Bell Atlantic. Video 9-399-501 is a short version of the case series and may be used in conjunction with it.

Authors :: Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Ellen Pruyne

Topics :: Technology & Operations

Tags :: Joint ventures, Leadership, Leadership development, Mergers & acquisitions, Social enterprise, Strategic planning, Technology, SWOT Analysis, SWOT Matrix, TOWS, Weighted SWOT Analysis

Swot Analysis of "Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network" written by Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Ellen Pruyne includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Bell Atlantic facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Joint ventures, Leadership, Leadership development, Mergers & acquisitions, Social enterprise, Strategic planning, Technology and Technology & Operations.


Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network casestudy better are - – cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, there is increasing trade war between United States & China, increasing commodity prices, talent flight as more people leaving formal jobs, customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, increasing transportation and logistics costs, etc



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Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network


SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Bell Atlantic, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Bell Atlantic 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 Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Bell Atlantic
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in Technology & Operations field.
4. Making a Technology & Operations topic specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Bell Atlantic




Strengths Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The strengths of Bell Atlantic in Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network Harvard Business Review case study are -

Superior customer experience

– The customer experience strategy of Bell Atlantic in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.

Digital Transformation in Technology & Operations segment

- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Bell Atlantic digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Bell Atlantic 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.

Organizational Resilience of Bell Atlantic

– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Bell Atlantic does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.

Effective Research and Development (R&D)

– Bell Atlantic 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 Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.

Highly skilled collaborators

– Bell Atlantic 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 Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.

Diverse revenue streams

– Bell Atlantic is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network 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.

Learning organization

- Bell Atlantic 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 Bell Atlantic is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.

Low bargaining power of suppliers

– Suppliers of Bell Atlantic in the sector have low bargaining power. Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Bell Atlantic to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.

Sustainable margins compare to other players in Technology & Operations industry

– Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Bell Atlantic to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Technology & Operations industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Bell Atlantic to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.

Innovation driven organization

– Bell Atlantic is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.

Analytics focus

– Bell Atlantic 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 Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Ellen Pruyne 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.

High switching costs

– The high switching costs that Bell Atlantic 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.






Weaknesses Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The weaknesses of Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network are -

Interest costs

– Compare to the competition, Bell Atlantic 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.

High dependence on star products

– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network HBR case study still accounts for major business revenue. This dependence on star products in has resulted into insufficient focus on developing new products, even though Bell Atlantic has relatively successful track record of launching new products.

High cash cycle compare to competitors

Bell Atlantic 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.

Capital Spending Reduction

– Even during the low interest decade, Bell Atlantic has not been able to do capital spending to the tune of the competition. This has resulted into fewer innovations and company facing stiff competition from both existing competitors and new entrants who are disrupting the industry using digital technology.

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 Bell Atlantic supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Bell Atlantic vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.

Skills based hiring

– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Bell Atlantic 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.

Products dominated business model

– Even though Bell Atlantic 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 - Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.

High operating costs

– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network 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 Bell Atlantic 's lucrative customers.

Lack of clear differentiation of Bell Atlantic products

– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Bell Atlantic needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.

Slow to harness new channels of communication

– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Bell Atlantic is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.

Compensation and incentives

– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network, is just above the industry average. Bell Atlantic 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 Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network | 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 Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network are -

Leveraging digital technologies

– Bell Atlantic 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.

Manufacturing automation

– Bell Atlantic can use the latest technology developments to improve its manufacturing and designing process in Technology & Operations 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.

Redefining models of collaboration and team work

– As explained in the weaknesses section, Bell Atlantic is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network 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.

Building a culture of innovation

– managers at Bell Atlantic 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 Technology & Operations segment.

Finding new ways to collaborate

– Covid-19 has not only transformed business models of companies in Technology & Operations industry, but it has also influenced the consumer preferences. Bell Atlantic can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.

Buying journey improvements

– Bell Atlantic can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network 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.

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 Bell Atlantic 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.

Loyalty marketing

– Bell Atlantic 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 Bell Atlantic in the consumer business. Now Bell Atlantic can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.

Better consumer reach

– The expansion of the 5G network will help Bell Atlantic to increase its market reach. Bell Atlantic 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.

Creating value in data economy

– The success of analytics program of Bell Atlantic has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Bell Atlantic to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network case study. Bell Atlantic can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.

Low interest rates

– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Bell Atlantic 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.

Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities

– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Bell Atlantic 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 Bell Atlantic to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.




Threats Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis


The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network 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.

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.

Environmental challenges

– Bell Atlantic 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. Bell Atlantic can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Technology & Operations industry.

High dependence on third party suppliers

– Bell Atlantic 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.

Easy access to finance

– Easy access to finance in Technology & Operations field will also reduce the barriers to entry in the industry, thus putting downward pressure on the prices because of increasing competition. Bell Atlantic can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.

Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution

– Bell Atlantic has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Technology & Operations industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Bell Atlantic needs to keep up with the evolution of technology in the Technology & Operations 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.

Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins

– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Bell Atlantic 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 Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network .

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 Bell Atlantic.

Barriers of entry lowering

– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Bell Atlantic with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.

Learning curve for new practices

– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network, Bell Atlantic may face longer learning curve for training and development of existing employees. This can open space for more nimble competitors in the field of Technology & Operations .

Shortening product life cycle

– it is one of the major threat that Bell Atlantic is facing in Technology & Operations sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.

Trade war between China and United States

– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Bell Atlantic in the Technology & Operations industry. The Technology & Operations 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.

Consumer confidence and its impact on Bell Atlantic 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.




Weighted SWOT Analysis of Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network 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 Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network 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 Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network 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 Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network 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 Bell Atlantic and the Union City Schools (A): The Intelligent Network 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 Bell Atlantic needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.



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