Swot Analysis of "Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B)" written by John Beshears, Iris Bohnet, Jenny Sanford includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Boardroom Null facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, and Sales & Marketing.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) casestudy better are - – cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , there is increasing trade war between United States & China, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies,
there is backlash against globalization, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B)
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Boardroom Null, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Boardroom Null 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 Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Boardroom Null
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in Sales & Marketing field.
4. Making a Sales & Marketing topic specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Boardroom Null
Strengths Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Boardroom Null in Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) Harvard Business Review case study are -
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) 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.
Digital Transformation in Sales & Marketing segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Boardroom Null digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Boardroom Null 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.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Boardroom Null 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 Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Diverse revenue streams
– Boardroom Null is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) case study a diverse revenue stream that has helped it to survive disruptions such as global pandemic in Covid-19, financial disruption of 2008, and supply chain disruption of 2021.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Boardroom Null 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 Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Organizational Resilience of Boardroom Null
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Boardroom Null 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 Sales & Marketing industry
– Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Boardroom Null to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Sales & Marketing industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Boardroom Null to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Strong track record of project management
– Boardroom Null is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
Innovation driven organization
– Boardroom Null is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Boardroom Null is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Boardroom Null in the sector have low bargaining power. Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Boardroom Null to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
High brand equity
– Boardroom Null has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Boardroom Null to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Weaknesses Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) are -
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Boardroom Null is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) 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 bargaining power of channel partners
– Because of the regulatory requirements, John Beshears, Iris Bohnet, Jenny Sanford suggests that, Boardroom Null 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.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) 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 Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Boardroom Null is planning to shift buying processes online.
Capital Spending Reduction
– Even during the low interest decade, Boardroom Null 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.
Need for greater diversity
– Boardroom Null 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 Boardroom Null 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.
Slow to strategic competitive environment developments
– As Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) HBR case study mentions - Boardroom Null 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.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) 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 Boardroom Null 's lucrative customers.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Boardroom Null is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Sales & Marketing segment. Boardroom Null needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Boardroom Null to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B), is just above the industry average. Boardroom Null 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.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B), it seems that the employees of Boardroom Null 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.
Opportunities Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) | 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 Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) are -
Finding new ways to collaborate
– Covid-19 has not only transformed business models of companies in Sales & Marketing industry, but it has also influenced the consumer preferences. Boardroom Null can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
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 Boardroom Null in the consumer business. Now Boardroom Null can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Identify volunteer opportunities
– Covid-19 has impacted working population in two ways – it has led to people soul searching about their professional choices, resulting in mass resignation. Secondly it has encouraged people to do things that they are passionate about. This has opened opportunities for businesses to build volunteer oriented socially driven projects. Boardroom Null can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Boardroom Null can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Leveraging digital technologies
– Boardroom Null 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.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Boardroom Null 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 Boardroom Null to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Boardroom Null to increase its market reach. Boardroom Null 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.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Boardroom Null in the field of marketing communication. It will bring down the cost of doing business, provide technology platform to build new products in the Sales & Marketing segment, and it will provide faster access to the consumers.
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– Boardroom Null 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 Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Boardroom Null to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
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 Boardroom Null 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.
Buying journey improvements
– Boardroom Null can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) 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.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Boardroom Null 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.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Boardroom Null can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Boardroom Null operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Sales & Marketing sector.
Threats Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) are -
Environmental challenges
– Boardroom Null 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. Boardroom Null can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Sales & Marketing industry.
Regulatory challenges
– Boardroom Null 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 Sales & Marketing industry regulations.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Boardroom Null is facing in Sales & Marketing sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B), Boardroom Null may face longer learning curve for training and development of existing employees. This can open space for more nimble competitors in the field of Sales & Marketing .
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 Boardroom Null business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Boardroom Null 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 Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) .
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.
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.
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. Boardroom Null needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Sales & Marketing industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Boardroom Null 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.
Increasing wage structure of Boardroom Null
– 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 Boardroom Null.
High dependence on third party suppliers
– Boardroom Null 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.
Easy access to finance
– Easy access to finance in Sales & Marketing field will also reduce the barriers to entry in the industry, thus putting downward pressure on the prices because of increasing competition. Boardroom Null 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 Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) 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 Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) 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 Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) 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 Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) 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 Increasing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: The United Kingdom in 2011 (B) 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 Boardroom Null needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.