Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Technology & Operations
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) faces a serious loss of knowledge--both because of the "faster, better, cheaper" mandate for Mars missions and from the retirement of key personnel. An extensive knowledge management system for NASA/JPL includes formal knowledge-capture mechanisms such as Web pages and digitized manuals and such informal ones as storytelling. The former are much easier to get funded and to implement than the latter, but chief knowledge architect Jeanne Holm is concerned that technology cannot solve some of the most difficult issues she faces. This case focuses more on managing the tacit knowledge held in the heads of scientists and experienced project managers than on the information technology that Holm has put in place. The switch from expensive but infrequent Mars missions to 2 missions every 26 months propelled a number of junior managers into positions of responsibility and decision making for which they had inadequate experience. In the face of increasingly tight budgets, Holm must decide what kinds of knowledge management initiatives to back--and how to encourage the cultural change that is needed in the organization.
Swot Analysis of "Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version" written by Dorothy Leonard, David Kiron includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Holm Knowledge facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Knowledge management, Leadership, Organizational culture and Technology & Operations.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version casestudy better are - – wage bills are increasing, increasing energy prices, there is backlash against globalization, technology disruption, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies,
increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Holm Knowledge, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Holm 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.
SWOT Objectives / Importance of SWOT Analysis and SWOT Matrix
SWOT analysis of Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Holm 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 Holm Knowledge
Strengths Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Holm Knowledge in Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version Harvard Business Review case study are -
Digital Transformation in Technology & Operations segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Holm Knowledge digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Holm Knowledge 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.
Strong track record of project management
– Holm 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.
Ability to lead change in Technology & Operations field
– Holm 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 Holm Knowledge in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Training and development
– Holm Knowledge has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version Harvard Business Review case study by analyzing – employees retention, in-house promotion, loyalty, new venture initiation, lack of conflict, and high level of both employees and customer engagement.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Holm Knowledge is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Analytics focus
– Holm Knowledge 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 Dorothy Leonard, David Kiron 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.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version 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.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that Holm 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.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Technology & Operations industry
– Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Holm Knowledge to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Technology & Operations industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Holm Knowledge to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Holm Knowledge in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Innovation driven organization
– Holm Knowledge is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version 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
– Holm Knowledge has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Holm Knowledge 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.
Weaknesses Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version are -
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version, it seems that the employees of Holm 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.
High dependence on star products
– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version 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 Holm Knowledge has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version 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 Holm Knowledge 's lucrative customers.
No frontier risks strategy
– After analyzing the HBR case study Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version, 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.
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Holm Knowledge, firm in the HBR case study Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
High bargaining power of channel partners
– Because of the regulatory requirements, Dorothy Leonard, David Kiron suggests that, Holm 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.
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version, is just above the industry average. Holm 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.
Interest costs
– Compare to the competition, Holm Knowledge 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.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version 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 Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Holm Knowledge is planning to shift buying processes online.
Slow to strategic competitive environment developments
– As Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version HBR case study mentions - Holm 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.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Holm Knowledge 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.
Opportunities Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version | 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 Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version are -
Loyalty marketing
– Holm 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.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Holm Knowledge is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version 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.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Holm 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.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Holm 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, Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
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 Holm Knowledge in the consumer business. Now Holm Knowledge can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Buying journey improvements
– Holm Knowledge can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version 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.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Holm Knowledge 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.
Manufacturing automation
– Holm Knowledge 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.
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. Holm Knowledge can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Leveraging digital technologies
– Holm Knowledge 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.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Holm 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.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Holm Knowledge 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.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Holm Knowledge can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Holm Knowledge operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Technology & Operations sector.
Threats Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version are -
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. Holm Knowledge needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Technology & Operations industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Regulatory challenges
– Holm 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.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Holm 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.
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.
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. Holm 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.
Increasing wage structure of Holm 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 Holm Knowledge.
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 Holm Knowledge in the Technology & Operations sector and impact the bottomline 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.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Holm Knowledge with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
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. Holm Knowledge 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
– Holm Knowledge has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Technology & Operations industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Holm 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.
High dependence on third party suppliers
– Holm 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
– Holm 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.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version 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 Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version 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 Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version 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 Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version 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 Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spanish Version 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 Holm Knowledge needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
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