Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Leadership & Managing People
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F)
Supplement to case W97A17. In this set of six cases, students are placed into the role of the fictional Andrea Johnson, a recent graduate who has just begun her career at a mid-sized organization in the consumer electronics industry. While in the role of Andrea, university students and early-stage professionals follow Andrea's career development and are exposed to a variety of ethical challenges she encounters along the way. Each hypothetical scenario is based on real-world events and will illustrate the types of situations that students may encounter in the course of their career. The cases may be taught sequentially or as standalone scenarios. Case A is delivered in the inspection copy and purchased copy, and Cases B - F are delivered alongside the teaching note. A slide deck accompanies the comprehensive teaching note that provides an in-depth analysis of each scenario with tips on promoting student engagement to create an active and dynamic learning environment. The intent of the case series is to enable students to develop fundamental tools for how to recognize, address, and successfully overcome compromising situations.
Swot Analysis of "Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F)" written by George F. Halow, Brian Talbot includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Andrea Career facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, and Leadership & Managing People.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) casestudy better are - – central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, increasing commodity prices, talent flight as more people leaving formal jobs, increasing energy prices, increasing transportation and logistics costs, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy,
cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, technology disruption, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F)
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Andrea Career, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Andrea Career 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 Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Andrea Career
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in Leadership & Managing People field.
4. Making a Leadership & Managing People topic specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Andrea Career
Strengths Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Andrea Career in Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) Harvard Business Review case study are -
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Andrea Career in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Successful track record of launching new products
– Andrea Career has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Andrea Career 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.
Strong track record of project management
– Andrea Career is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that Andrea Career has built up over years in its products and services combo offer has resulted in high retention of customers, lower marketing costs, and greater ability of the firm to focus on its customers.
Innovation driven organization
– Andrea Career is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Organizational Resilience of Andrea Career
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Andrea Career does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Digital Transformation in Leadership & Managing People segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Andrea Career digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Andrea Career 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
– Andrea Career 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 Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Ability to lead change in Leadership & Managing People field
– Andrea Career 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 Andrea Career in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Andrea Career in the sector have low bargaining power. Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Andrea Career to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Andrea Career is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Leadership & Managing People industry
– Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Andrea Career to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Leadership & Managing People industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Andrea Career to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Weaknesses Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) are -
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) 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 Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Andrea Career is planning to shift buying processes online.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F), it seems that the employees of Andrea Career 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.
Need for greater diversity
– Andrea Career 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.
Lack of clear differentiation of Andrea Career products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Andrea Career needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Andrea Career is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) 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 Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) 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 Andrea Career 's lucrative customers.
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 Andrea Career supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F), it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Andrea Career vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
Slow decision making process
– As mentioned earlier in the report, Andrea Career has a very deliberative decision making approach. This approach has resulted in prudent decisions, but it has also resulted in missing opportunities in the industry over the last five years. Andrea Career even though has strong showing on digital transformation primary two stages, it has struggled to capitalize the power of digital transformation in marketing efforts and new venture efforts.
High bargaining power of channel partners
– Because of the regulatory requirements, George F. Halow, Brian Talbot suggests that, Andrea Career 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.
Products dominated business model
– Even though Andrea Career 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 - Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Andrea Career 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.
Opportunities Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) | 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 Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) are -
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Andrea Career 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, Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F), to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– Andrea Career 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 Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Andrea Career to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
Loyalty marketing
– Andrea Career 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.
Finding new ways to collaborate
– Covid-19 has not only transformed business models of companies in Leadership & Managing People industry, but it has also influenced the consumer preferences. Andrea Career can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Andrea Career to increase its market reach. Andrea Career 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.
Developing new processes and practices
– Andrea Career can develop new processes and procedures in Leadership & Managing People industry using technology such as automation using artificial intelligence, real time transportation and products tracking, 3D modeling for concept development and new products pilot testing etc.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Andrea Career 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.
Buying journey improvements
– Andrea Career can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) 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 Andrea Career in the field of marketing communication. It will bring down the cost of doing business, provide technology platform to build new products in the Leadership & Managing People segment, and it will provide faster access to the consumers.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of Andrea Career has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Andrea Career to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) case study. Andrea Career can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
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 Andrea Career in the consumer business. Now Andrea Career can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Manufacturing automation
– Andrea Career can use the latest technology developments to improve its manufacturing and designing process in Leadership & Managing People 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.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Andrea Career can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Andrea Career operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Leadership & Managing People sector.
Threats Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) are -
Environmental challenges
– Andrea Career 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. Andrea Career can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Leadership & Managing People industry.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Andrea Career 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.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Andrea Career with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
High dependence on third party suppliers
– Andrea Career 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 Leadership & Managing People field will also reduce the barriers to entry in the industry, thus putting downward pressure on the prices because of increasing competition. Andrea Career can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F), Andrea Career may face longer learning curve for training and development of existing employees. This can open space for more nimble competitors in the field of Leadership & Managing People .
Consumer confidence and its impact on Andrea Career 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.
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 Andrea Career business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
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.
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.
Regulatory challenges
– Andrea Career 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 Leadership & Managing People industry regulations.
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. Andrea Career needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Leadership & Managing People industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Increasing wage structure of Andrea Career
– 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 Andrea Career.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) 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 Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) 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 Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) 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 Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) 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 Ethics and Integrity in Business: Navigating Ethical Risks and Transgressions in the Workplace (F) 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 Andrea Career needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
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