Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Communication
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out
This case, an abridgment of the A, B, and C cases (UV3505, UV3506, UV3507), presents an operating challenge: how does an organization sustain the initial progress achieved through its new quality-improvement system. Nurses and other clinical staff feel that the culture does not support the acknowledgment of mistakes, and the operations manager is trying to ascertain whether this "blame-game" environment is the cause of the improvement slowdown or whether there are other factors. Students are asked to apply systems-thinking tools to reveal their hypotheses of the causes of the improvement problem and to critique one representation of the underlying system structure. A systems-dynamics model can be used in class or as a preparation assignment. The simulation model enables students to develop a deeper understanding of the systems-dynamics behavior. This case is best used in a class where the emphasis is on systems mapping and not on simulation modeling. It can be used to discuss and critique how the hospital manager has tackled the improvement problem and developed a model representation of the system. It can also be used to discuss how a manager assists in the quantification of systems relationships (dominated by soft variables) and in the development of a simulation model.
Swot Analysis of "Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out" written by Robert D. Landel, Derrick Moreira includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Improvement Simulation facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Health and Communication.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out casestudy better are - – increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, geopolitical disruptions, increasing commodity prices, increasing transportation and logistics costs,
wage bills are increasing, cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Improvement Simulation, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Improvement Simulation 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 Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Improvement Simulation
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 Improvement Simulation
Strengths Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Improvement Simulation in Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out Harvard Business Review case study are -
Learning organization
- Improvement Simulation 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 Improvement Simulation is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Strong track record of project management
– Improvement Simulation is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
Successful track record of launching new products
– Improvement Simulation has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Improvement Simulation 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.
Organizational Resilience of Improvement Simulation
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Improvement Simulation does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Improvement Simulation 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.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that Improvement Simulation 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.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out 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.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Improvement Simulation in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
High brand equity
– Improvement Simulation has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Improvement Simulation to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Digital Transformation in Communication segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Improvement Simulation digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Improvement Simulation 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.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Communication industry
– Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Improvement Simulation to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Communication industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Improvement Simulation to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Improvement Simulation 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 Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Weaknesses Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out are -
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out, in the dynamic environment Improvement Simulation has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Improvement Simulation has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
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 Improvement Simulation supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Improvement Simulation vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
Slow decision making process
– As mentioned earlier in the report, Improvement Simulation 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. Improvement Simulation 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.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Improvement Simulation is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out 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
– Improvement Simulation 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.
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Improvement Simulation 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.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out 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 Improvement Simulation 's lucrative customers.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Improvement Simulation 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 Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out HBR case study mentions - Improvement Simulation 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.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Improvement Simulation is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Communication segment. Improvement Simulation needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Improvement Simulation to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
High dependence on star products
– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out HBR case study still accounts for major business revenue. This dependence on star products in has resulted into insufficient focus on developing new products, even though Improvement Simulation has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
Opportunities Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out | 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 Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out are -
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Improvement Simulation 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, Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Improvement Simulation 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.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Improvement Simulation can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Improvement Simulation operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Communication sector.
Developing new processes and practices
– Improvement Simulation can develop new processes and procedures in Communication 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.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Improvement Simulation is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out 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 Improvement Simulation 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.
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– Improvement Simulation 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 Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Improvement Simulation to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Improvement Simulation 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.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Improvement Simulation 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.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Improvement Simulation 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
– Improvement Simulation 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 Improvement Simulation has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Improvement Simulation to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out case study. Improvement Simulation can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
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. Improvement Simulation 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. Improvement Simulation 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.
Threats Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out are -
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out, Improvement Simulation may face longer learning curve for training and development of existing employees. This can open space for more nimble competitors in the field of Communication .
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. Improvement Simulation needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Communication industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
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. Improvement Simulation can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
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 Improvement Simulation in the Communication sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Improvement Simulation 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.
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.
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 Improvement Simulation business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Environmental challenges
– Improvement Simulation 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. Improvement Simulation can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Communication industry.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Improvement Simulation with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Improvement Simulation in the Communication industry. The Communication industry is already at various protected from local competition in China, with the rise of trade war the protection levels may go up. This presents a clear threat of current business model in Chinese market.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Improvement Simulation is facing in Communication sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Improvement Simulation 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.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out 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 Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out 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 Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out 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 Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out 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 Colby General Hospital (D): A Performance Improvement System Stalls Out 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 Improvement Simulation needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.