Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution

Case Study Description of Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video

This case is a special format with embedded videos - it is only available for use electronically. If you are interested in getting printed copies of this case, please feel free to use the version of the case without embedded videos, which is case number 910017.Carolina for Kibera (CFK) is an international non-profit organization whose mission is to promote youth leadership and gender and ethnic cooperation in Kibera, the largest unstructured settlement situated in the heart of Nairobi, Kenya. CFK's programs constructively leverage the power of the community, offering an exemplar of participatory development. CFK's affiliation with the University of North Carolina offers a new model of social enterprise. After eight years of success under the founding leadership of Salim Mohamed, Rye Barcott and Kim Chapman, CFK is at a critical juncture. Mohamed, Executive Director of all operations in Kibera, is leaving to go to graduate school. Barcott, Founder and President, has a new career and a growing family and can no longer play an active role in CFK's operations. Chapman, Chair of the U.S. Board of Directors, has accepted a full-time faculty position and must step down from her roles at CFK. These departures come at a time when the Gates Foundation has just awarded CFK a two-year, $1 million grant. The case ends as CFK begins to grapple with impending changes in organizational leadership and activities.

Authors :: Kathleen L. McGinn, Beth-Ann Kutchma, Cailin B. Hammer

Topics :: Technology & Operations

Tags :: Influence, International business, Negotiations, Organizational culture, Social enterprise, SWOT Analysis, SWOT Matrix, TOWS, Weighted SWOT Analysis

Swot Analysis of "Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video" written by Kathleen L. McGinn, Beth-Ann Kutchma, Cailin B. Hammer includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Cfk Kibera facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Influence, International business, Negotiations, Organizational culture, Social enterprise and Technology & Operations.

Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video casestudy better are - – increasing energy prices, talent flight as more people leaving formal jobs, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , there is backlash against globalization, increasing transportation and logistics costs, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%, competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, etc

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Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video

SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Cfk Kibera, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Cfk Kibera 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 Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Cfk Kibera
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 Cfk Kibera

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Strengths Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The strengths of Cfk Kibera in Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video Harvard Business Review case study are -

Cross disciplinary teams

– Horizontal connected teams at the Cfk Kibera 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.

Digital Transformation in Technology & Operations segment

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

High brand equity

– Cfk Kibera has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Cfk Kibera to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.

Low bargaining power of suppliers

– Suppliers of Cfk Kibera in the sector have low bargaining power. Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Cfk Kibera to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.

Organizational Resilience of Cfk Kibera

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

Highly skilled collaborators

– Cfk Kibera 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 Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.

Innovation driven organization

– Cfk Kibera is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.

Operational resilience

– The operational resilience strategy in the Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video 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.

Ability to recruit top talent

– Cfk Kibera is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video 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

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

High switching costs

– The high switching costs that Cfk Kibera 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)

– Cfk Kibera 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 Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.

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Weaknesses Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The weaknesses of Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video are -

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 Cfk Kibera supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Cfk Kibera vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.

Compensation and incentives

– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video, is just above the industry average. Cfk Kibera 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.

Capital Spending Reduction

– Even during the low interest decade, Cfk Kibera 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, Kathleen L. McGinn, Beth-Ann Kutchma, Cailin B. Hammer suggests that, Cfk Kibera 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.

Increasing silos among functional specialists

– The organizational structure of Cfk Kibera is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Technology & Operations segment. Cfk Kibera needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Cfk Kibera to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.

Products dominated business model

– Even though Cfk Kibera 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 - Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.

High dependence on star products

– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video 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 Cfk Kibera 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, Cfk Kibera is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.

High operating costs

– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video 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 Cfk Kibera 's lucrative customers.

Need for greater diversity

– Cfk Kibera 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.

Skills based hiring

– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Cfk Kibera 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.

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Opportunities Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video | 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 Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video are -

Manufacturing automation

– Cfk Kibera 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.

Creating value in data economy

– The success of analytics program of Cfk Kibera has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Cfk Kibera to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video case study. Cfk Kibera can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.

Building a culture of innovation

– managers at Cfk Kibera 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.

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. Cfk Kibera 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. Cfk Kibera 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.

Low interest rates

– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Cfk Kibera 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.

Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains

– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Cfk Kibera 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, Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.

Buying journey improvements

– Cfk Kibera can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video 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.

Using analytics as competitive advantage

– Cfk Kibera 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 Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Cfk Kibera to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.

Redefining models of collaboration and team work

– As explained in the weaknesses section, Cfk Kibera is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video 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.

Better consumer reach

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

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 Cfk Kibera 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.

Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities

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

Learning at scale

– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Cfk Kibera 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.

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Threats Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video are -

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. Cfk Kibera can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.

Consumer confidence and its impact on Cfk Kibera 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 Cfk Kibera.

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. Cfk Kibera needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Technology & Operations industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.

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 Cfk Kibera business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.

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 Cfk Kibera in the Technology & Operations sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.

Environmental challenges

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

Regulatory challenges

– Cfk Kibera 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.

Learning curve for new practices

– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video, Cfk Kibera 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 .

Trade war between China and United States

– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Cfk Kibera 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.

High dependence on third party suppliers

– Cfk Kibera 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.

Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins

– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Cfk Kibera 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 Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video .

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Weighted SWOT Analysis of Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video 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 Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video 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 Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video 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 Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video 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 Carolina for Kibera, With Embedded Video 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 Cfk Kibera needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.

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