Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution

Case Study Description of Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case

The Web 2.0 era is nourished by the emergence of collaboration-conducive web applications, such as blogs, social networks, and wikis. Among these, Wiki has particularly revolutionized the way information is created and shared within a wide variety of organizations, such as educational institutions, research centers, and business enterprises. The technically undemanding nature of Wiki alleviates the burden of mastering cumbersome or complicated technologies, thereby encouraging personnel to share and archive valuable tacit knowledge with other members of the organization. As a result, Wiki helps mitigate the reluctance of members to share knowledge, resolving one of the most pronounced challenges in managerial efforts to capture, transfer, and store knowledge for the firm. This case study presents the inception of a wiki by the NBC Universal Software Engineering and Delivery Team and the expansion of the wiki to other departments in the firm, in particular to Peacock Productions, which specializes in programming of documentary TV programs. The Peacock Productions case demonstrates that Wiki can be a powerful tool for managing knowledge in business corporations, which must adapt quickly to changing market demands.

Authors :: Danielle Bibbo, James Michelich, Eric Sprehe, Young Eun Lee

Topics :: Technology & Operations

Tags :: Social platforms, SWOT Analysis, SWOT Matrix, TOWS, Weighted SWOT Analysis

Swot Analysis of "Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case" written by Danielle Bibbo, James Michelich, Eric Sprehe, Young Eun Lee includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Wiki Knowledge facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Social platforms and Technology & Operations.

Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case casestudy better are - – increasing transportation and logistics costs, there is backlash against globalization, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%, there is increasing trade war between United States & China, central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, increasing commodity prices, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, etc

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Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case

SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Wiki Knowledge, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Wiki Knowledge 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.

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SWOT Objectives / Importance of SWOT Analysis and SWOT Matrix

SWOT analysis of Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Wiki Knowledge
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 Wiki Knowledge

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Strengths Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The strengths of Wiki Knowledge in Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case Harvard Business Review case study are -

Superior customer experience

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

Strong track record of project management

– Wiki Knowledge is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.

Cross disciplinary teams

– Horizontal connected teams at the Wiki Knowledge 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.

Organizational Resilience of Wiki Knowledge

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

Sustainable margins compare to other players in Technology & Operations industry

– Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Wiki Knowledge to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Technology & Operations industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Wiki Knowledge to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.

High switching costs

– The high switching costs that Wiki Knowledge 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.

Innovation driven organization

– Wiki Knowledge is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.

Learning organization

- Wiki Knowledge 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 Wiki Knowledge is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.

Operational resilience

– The operational resilience strategy in the Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case 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

– Wiki Knowledge 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 Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.

Ability to recruit top talent

– Wiki Knowledge is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.

Ability to lead change in Technology & Operations field

– Wiki Knowledge 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 Wiki Knowledge in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.

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Weaknesses Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The weaknesses of Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case are -

Compensation and incentives

– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case, is just above the industry average. Wiki Knowledge 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.

Slow decision making process

– As mentioned earlier in the report, Wiki Knowledge 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. Wiki Knowledge 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.

Capital Spending Reduction

– Even during the low interest decade, Wiki Knowledge 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.

Low market penetration in new markets

– Outside its home market of Wiki Knowledge, firm in the HBR case study Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.

High bargaining power of channel partners

– Because of the regulatory requirements, Danielle Bibbo, James Michelich, Eric Sprehe, Young Eun Lee suggests that, Wiki Knowledge 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.

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 Wiki Knowledge supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Wiki Knowledge vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.

High dependence on star products

– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case 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 Wiki Knowledge has relatively successful track record of launching new products.

Slow to harness new channels of communication

– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Wiki Knowledge is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.

Workers concerns about automation

– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Wiki Knowledge 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.

Slow to strategic competitive environment developments

– As Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case HBR case study mentions - Wiki Knowledge 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.

Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy

– From the instances in the HBR case study Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case, it seems that the employees of Wiki Knowledge 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.

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Opportunities Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case | 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 Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case are -

Building a culture of innovation

– managers at Wiki Knowledge 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.

Using analytics as competitive advantage

– Wiki Knowledge 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 Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Wiki Knowledge to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.

Creating value in data economy

– The success of analytics program of Wiki Knowledge has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Wiki Knowledge to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case case study. Wiki Knowledge can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.

Learning at scale

– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Wiki Knowledge to conduct training and development for its employees across the world. This will result in not only reducing the cost of training but also help employees in different part of the world to integrate with the headquarter work culture, ethos, and standards.

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 Wiki Knowledge 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.

Redefining models of collaboration and team work

– As explained in the weaknesses section, Wiki Knowledge is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case 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

– Wiki Knowledge 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.

Changes in consumer behavior post Covid-19

– Consumer behavior has changed in the Technology & Operations industry because of Covid-19 restrictions. Some of this behavior will stay once things get back to normal. Wiki Knowledge 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. Wiki Knowledge 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.

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. Wiki Knowledge can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.

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. Wiki Knowledge can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.

Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities

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

Developing new processes and practices

– Wiki Knowledge 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.

Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains

– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Wiki Knowledge can build a diversified supply chain model across various countries in - South East Asia, India, and other parts of the world. This reconfiguration of global supply chain can help, as suggested in case study, Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.

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Threats Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case are -

Learning curve for new practices

– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case, Wiki Knowledge 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 .

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.

Increasing wage structure of Wiki Knowledge

– 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 Wiki Knowledge.

Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution

– Wiki Knowledge has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Technology & Operations industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Wiki Knowledge 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.

Regulatory challenges

– Wiki Knowledge 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.

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.

High dependence on third party suppliers

– Wiki Knowledge 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.

Stagnating economy with rate increase

– Wiki Knowledge 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.

New competition

– After the dotcom bust of 2001, financial crisis of 2008-09, the business formation in US economy had declined. But in 2020 alone, there are more than 1.5 million new business applications in United States. This can lead to greater competition for Wiki Knowledge in the Technology & Operations sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.

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. Wiki Knowledge will face different problems in different parts of Europe. For example it will face inflationary pressures in UK, France, and Germany, balance sheet expansion and demand challenges in Southern European countries, and geopolitical instability in the Eastern Europe.

Barriers of entry lowering

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

Consumer confidence and its impact on Wiki Knowledge 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 Wiki Knowledge.

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Weighted SWOT Analysis of Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case 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 Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case 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 Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case 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 Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case 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 Employing Wiki for Knowledge Management as a Collaborative Information Repository: An NBC Universal Case 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 Wiki Knowledge needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.

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