Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
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Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method
Case analysis is an effective tool for teaching, learning, and most importantly, practising the art and science of management. The case method immerses students in real-life situations, allowing them to develop their business skills by analyzing realistic situations, applying business theories and tools, and making substantiated recommendations for a course of action. However, working with cases is a pedagogical approach that is unfamiliar to most new business students and often inadequately understood by advanced students. The Case Guide Series introduces students to the case method and, in discrete notes, walks them through the tasks that are typically involved in case assignments: analyzing a case, discussing cases in class, writing case reports and giving presentations (individually and in groups), and writing case exams. A final note introduces students to the most common business tools used for case analysis. This field-tested series is best used as a complete package to orient students to the case method, but each note also stands on its own and can be used to supplement other course materials. Understanding the Case Method: Note 1 of the Case Guide Series describes the case method and its purpose, and outlines the basic process of reading and analyzing a case. Susan J. Van Weelden and Laurie George Busuttil are affiliated with Redeemer University College.
Authors :: Susan J. Van Weelden, Laurie George Busuttil
Swot Analysis of "Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method" written by Susan J. Van Weelden, Laurie George Busuttil includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Method Analyzing facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Presentations, Strategic planning and Communication.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method casestudy better are - – increasing energy prices, cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, geopolitical disruptions, increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, increasing household debt because of falling income levels,
customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Method Analyzing, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Method Analyzing 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 Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Method Analyzing
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in Communication field.
4. Making a Communication topic specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Method Analyzing
Strengths Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Method Analyzing in Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method Harvard Business Review case study are -
Analytics focus
– Method Analyzing 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 Susan J. Van Weelden, Laurie George Busuttil 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
– Method Analyzing has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method 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.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Method Analyzing 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.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Method Analyzing 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 Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Strong track record of project management
– Method Analyzing is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Method Analyzing in the sector have low bargaining power. Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Method Analyzing to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Learning organization
- Method Analyzing 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 Method Analyzing is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Ability to lead change in Communication field
– Method Analyzing 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 Method Analyzing in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method 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.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Method Analyzing 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 Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
High brand equity
– Method Analyzing has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Method Analyzing to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Method Analyzing is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Weaknesses Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method are -
High bargaining power of channel partners
– Because of the regulatory requirements, Susan J. Van Weelden, Laurie George Busuttil suggests that, Method Analyzing 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 Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method 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 Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Method Analyzing is planning to shift buying processes online.
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method, is just above the industry average. Method Analyzing 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.
Slow to strategic competitive environment developments
– As Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method HBR case study mentions - Method Analyzing 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 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 Method Analyzing supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Method Analyzing vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method 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 Method Analyzing 's lucrative customers.
Lack of clear differentiation of Method Analyzing products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Method Analyzing needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Method Analyzing is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Communication segment. Method Analyzing needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Method Analyzing to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
Slow decision making process
– As mentioned earlier in the report, Method Analyzing 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. Method Analyzing 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.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method, in the dynamic environment Method Analyzing has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Method Analyzing has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Method Analyzing 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.
Opportunities Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method | 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 Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method are -
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Method Analyzing can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Method Analyzing operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Communication sector.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Method Analyzing 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.
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 Method Analyzing in the consumer business. Now Method Analyzing can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Changes in consumer behavior post Covid-19
– Consumer behavior has changed in the Communication industry because of Covid-19 restrictions. Some of this behavior will stay once things get back to normal. Method Analyzing can take advantage of these changes in consumer behavior to build a far more efficient business model. For example consumer regular ordering of products can reduce both last mile delivery costs and market penetration costs. Method Analyzing can further use this consumer data to build better customer loyalty, provide better products and service collection, and improve the value proposition in inflationary times.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Method Analyzing 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 Communication segment.
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. Method Analyzing can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
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 Method Analyzing 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
– Method Analyzing can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method 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.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Method Analyzing is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method 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.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Method Analyzing in the field of marketing communication. It will bring down the cost of doing business, provide technology platform to build new products in the Communication segment, and it will provide faster access to the consumers.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Method Analyzing 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 Method Analyzing to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Method Analyzing 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.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of Method Analyzing has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Method Analyzing to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method case study. Method Analyzing can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
Threats Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method are -
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Method Analyzing with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
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 Method Analyzing.
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 dependence on third party suppliers
– Method Analyzing 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.
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Method Analyzing has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Communication industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Method Analyzing needs to keep up with the evolution of technology in the Communication 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.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Method Analyzing 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.
Easy access to finance
– Easy access to finance in Communication field will also reduce the barriers to entry in the industry, thus putting downward pressure on the prices because of increasing competition. Method Analyzing can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Method Analyzing is facing in Communication sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Increasing wage structure of Method Analyzing
– 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 Method Analyzing.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Method Analyzing 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.
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 Method Analyzing in the Communication sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Regulatory challenges
– Method Analyzing 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 Communication industry regulations.
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.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method 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 Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method 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 Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method 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 Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method 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 Student Guide to the Case Method: Note 1 - Understanding the Case Method 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 Method Analyzing needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.