Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Technology & Operations
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management
Many businesses fail to merge and analyze data effectively. When data are merged from diverse independent sources across a business-something that is now practical and inexpensive-it becomes possible to conduct rigorous pretest-posttest comparisons of complex datasets with a precision, speed, and breadth that have not been practical until now. This article describes a method for merging independent datasets and using the compiled data to run informative quantitative analyses that facilitate sound decision making. This approach can help support several critical tasks in evidence-based management: documenting changes in the corporate culture; measuring linkages between "soft" perceptual variables and "hard" performance metrics; conducting rigorous pretest-posttest comparisons; and evaluating program effectiveness.
Authors :: Palmer Morrel-Samuels, Ed Francis, Steve Shucard
Swot Analysis of "Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management" written by Palmer Morrel-Samuels, Ed Francis, Steve Shucard includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Datasets Posttest facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Decision making and Technology & Operations.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management casestudy better are - – competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, geopolitical disruptions, increasing commodity prices, central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, increasing energy prices,
cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Datasets Posttest, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Datasets Posttest 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 Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Datasets Posttest
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 Datasets Posttest
Strengths Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Datasets Posttest in Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management Harvard Business Review case study are -
Ability to recruit top talent
– Datasets Posttest is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Datasets Posttest 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 Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Datasets Posttest 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.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that Datasets Posttest 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.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Datasets Posttest 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 Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Learning organization
- Datasets Posttest 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 Datasets Posttest is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Innovation driven organization
– Datasets Posttest is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Successful track record of launching new products
– Datasets Posttest has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Datasets Posttest 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.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Technology & Operations industry
– Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Datasets Posttest to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Technology & Operations industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Datasets Posttest to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Datasets Posttest in the sector have low bargaining power. Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Datasets Posttest to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management 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.
Strong track record of project management
– Datasets Posttest is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
Weaknesses Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management are -
Lack of clear differentiation of Datasets Posttest products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Datasets Posttest needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
Need for greater diversity
– Datasets Posttest 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.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management 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 Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Datasets Posttest is planning to shift buying processes online.
Products dominated business model
– Even though Datasets Posttest 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 - Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
Capital Spending Reduction
– Even during the low interest decade, Datasets Posttest 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 bargaining power of channel partners
– Because of the regulatory requirements, Palmer Morrel-Samuels, Ed Francis, Steve Shucard suggests that, Datasets Posttest is facing high bargaining power of the channel partners. So far it has not able to streamline the operations to reduce the bargaining power of the value chain partners in the industry.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Datasets Posttest 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.
High dependence on star products
– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management 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 Datasets Posttest has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
Slow decision making process
– As mentioned earlier in the report, Datasets Posttest 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. Datasets Posttest 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.
No frontier risks strategy
– After analyzing the HBR case study Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management, it seems that company is thinking about the frontier risks that can impact Technology & Operations 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.
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Datasets Posttest 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.
Opportunities Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management | 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 Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management are -
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Datasets Posttest in the field of marketing communication. It will bring down the cost of doing business, provide technology platform to build new products in the Technology & Operations segment, and it will provide faster access to the consumers.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Datasets Posttest 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 Datasets Posttest to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
Manufacturing automation
– Datasets Posttest 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.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Datasets Posttest 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.
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 Datasets Posttest in the consumer business. Now Datasets Posttest can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
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. Datasets Posttest can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– Datasets Posttest 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 Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Datasets Posttest to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
Leveraging digital technologies
– Datasets Posttest 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.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Datasets Posttest is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management 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.
Developing new processes and practices
– Datasets Posttest can develop new processes and procedures in Technology & Operations 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.
Loyalty marketing
– Datasets Posttest 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.
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 Datasets Posttest 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.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Datasets Posttest to increase its market reach. Datasets Posttest 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.
Threats Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management are -
Regulatory challenges
– Datasets Posttest 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 Technology & Operations industry regulations.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Datasets Posttest with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
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.
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Datasets Posttest has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Technology & Operations industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Datasets Posttest 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.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Datasets Posttest 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.
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. Datasets Posttest can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
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 Datasets Posttest business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Datasets Posttest 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 Datasets Posttest.
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.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Datasets Posttest is facing in Technology & Operations sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, 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. Datasets Posttest 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.
Environmental challenges
– Datasets Posttest 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. Datasets Posttest can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Technology & Operations industry.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management 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 Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management 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 Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management 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 Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management 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 Merged Datasets: An Analytic Tool for Evidence-Based Management 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 Datasets Posttest needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
