Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Technology & Operations
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations
Students are required to do a team project. During the project, they are to do a benchmarking study of a business process to determine best practice or to study a single business process for the purposes of discovering improvement opportunities. The student teams are required to report their results in a 10- to 15-page paper. In years past, students have struggled to "ground" their findings properly in the specific observations and other data they have collected through direct observation, interview, survey, and other methods. As a result, the persuasiveness of their papers has suffered. Furthermore, and of longer term concern, the students have not fully exploited the opportunity to develop a critical management skill--reasoning inductively to discover how a process or system works when an adequate explanation is lacking a priori.
Swot Analysis of "Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations" written by Steven J. Spear includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Priori Paper facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Entrepreneurial management and Technology & Operations.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations casestudy better are - – technology disruption, there is backlash against globalization, cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, wage bills are increasing, increasing transportation and logistics costs,
increasing energy prices, increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Priori Paper, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Priori Paper 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 Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Priori Paper
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 Priori Paper
Strengths Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Priori Paper in Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations Harvard Business Review case study are -
Analytics focus
– Priori Paper 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 Steven J. Spear 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.
Training and development
– Priori Paper has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations 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
– Priori Paper is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Priori Paper 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.
Strong track record of project management
– Priori Paper is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
Learning organization
- Priori Paper 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 Priori Paper is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Priori Paper in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Priori Paper 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 Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Innovation driven organization
– Priori Paper is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Digital Transformation in Technology & Operations segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Priori Paper digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Priori Paper 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.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Priori Paper in the sector have low bargaining power. Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Priori Paper to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
High brand equity
– Priori Paper has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Priori Paper to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Weaknesses Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations are -
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Priori Paper 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.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations 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 Priori Paper 's lucrative customers.
Capital Spending Reduction
– Even during the low interest decade, Priori Paper 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.
Products dominated business model
– Even though Priori Paper 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 - Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations 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 Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Priori Paper is planning to shift buying processes online.
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations, is just above the industry average. Priori Paper 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.
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Priori Paper 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.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Priori Paper 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.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations, it seems that the employees of Priori Paper 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.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Priori Paper is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
Need for greater diversity
– Priori Paper 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.
Opportunities Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations | 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 Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations are -
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Priori Paper can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Priori Paper to increase its market reach. Priori Paper 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 Priori Paper 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.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Priori Paper 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, Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Priori Paper 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 Priori Paper to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
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. Priori Paper can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Leveraging digital technologies
– Priori Paper 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.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of Priori Paper has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Priori Paper to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations case study. Priori Paper 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 Priori Paper 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.
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. Priori Paper can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
Manufacturing automation
– Priori Paper can use the latest technology developments to improve its manufacturing and designing process in Technology & Operations segment. It can use CAD and 3D printing to build a quick prototype and pilot testing products. It can leverage automation using machine learning and artificial intelligence to do faster production at lowers costs, and it can leverage the growth in satellite and tracking technologies to improve inventory management, transportation, and shipping.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Priori Paper is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations 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
– Priori Paper 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.
Threats Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations 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. Priori Paper needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Technology & Operations industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Priori Paper with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
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 Priori Paper 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.
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. Priori Paper 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.
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.
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 Priori Paper business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
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 Priori Paper.
Increasing wage structure of Priori Paper
– 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 Priori Paper.
High dependence on third party suppliers
– Priori Paper 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.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Priori Paper 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.
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations, Priori Paper 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 .
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. Priori Paper can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations 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 Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations 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 Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations 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 Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations 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 Running and Growing the Small Company: Project-Paper Writing Recommendations 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 Priori Paper needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
