OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution

Case Study Description of OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media

Established in 2006, OSSCube was an open source software development company based in North Carolina, United States, which had its India office in Noida and its development centres in Delhi, Bangalore and Noida. OSSCube started as a software training provider and gradually emerged as an open source software development and consulting company. The marketing of OSSCube's offerings was primarily executed by search engine optimization (SEO) initiatives. Later on, OSSCube created a social media presence on various social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Slideshare, Vimeo, YouTube, Blip.TV, Blog and Friendfeed. The primary objective of creating a presence on these social media platforms was to augment the company's SEO initiatives. This strategy did help OSSCube in gaining business leads; however, Kinshuk, the community manager of the firm, realized that this strategy was not building the brand identity of OSSCube. Also, the thought of having a wide presence on social media platforms to augment SEO activities created some sort of confusion in consumers' minds regarding OSSCube's expertise. Hence, in 2010, Kinshuk was reviewing the social media approach with some definite objectives such as branding employees, branding OSSCube and promoting open source software. He faced the challenge of forming an appropriate social media strategy that would address these objectives.

Authors :: Anandan Pillai, Ashok Pratap Arora

Topics :: Global Business

Tags :: International business, Marketing, Social platforms, Strategy, SWOT Analysis, SWOT Matrix, TOWS, Weighted SWOT Analysis

Swot Analysis of "OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media" written by Anandan Pillai, Ashok Pratap Arora includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Osscube Media facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, International business, Marketing, Social platforms, Strategy and Global Business.

Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media casestudy better are - – challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, increasing energy prices, geopolitical disruptions, digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, increasing commodity prices, customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, there is increasing trade war between United States & China, increasing transportation and logistics costs, etc

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Introduction to SWOT Analysis of OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media

SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Osscube Media, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Osscube Media 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.

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SWOT Objectives / Importance of SWOT Analysis and SWOT Matrix

SWOT analysis of OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Osscube Media
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in Global Business field.
4. Making a Global Business topic specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Osscube Media

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Strengths OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The strengths of Osscube Media in OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media Harvard Business Review case study are -

Organizational Resilience of Osscube Media

– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Osscube Media does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.

Diverse revenue streams

– Osscube Media is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media 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.

Training and development

– Osscube Media has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media 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.

Highly skilled collaborators

– Osscube Media 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 OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.

Learning organization

- Osscube Media 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 Osscube Media is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.

Ability to recruit top talent

– Osscube Media is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.

Cross disciplinary teams

– Horizontal connected teams at the Osscube Media 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.

Ability to lead change in Global Business field

– Osscube Media 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 Osscube Media in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.

Sustainable margins compare to other players in Global Business industry

– OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Osscube Media to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Global Business industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Osscube Media to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.

Superior customer experience

– The customer experience strategy of Osscube Media in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.

Digital Transformation in Global Business segment

- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Osscube Media digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Osscube Media 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.

High brand equity

– Osscube Media has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Osscube Media to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.

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Weaknesses OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The weaknesses of OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media are -

Ability to respond to the competition

– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media, in the dynamic environment Osscube Media has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Osscube Media has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.

Aligning sales with marketing

– It come across in the case study OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media 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 OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Osscube Media is planning to shift buying processes online.

High cash cycle compare to competitors

Osscube Media 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.

Slow to harness new channels of communication

– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Osscube Media is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.

Compensation and incentives

– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media, is just above the industry average. Osscube Media 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 OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media, it seems that the employees of Osscube Media 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.

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 Osscube Media supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Osscube Media vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.

Increasing silos among functional specialists

– The organizational structure of Osscube Media is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Global Business segment. Osscube Media needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Osscube Media to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.

High bargaining power of channel partners

– Because of the regulatory requirements, Anandan Pillai, Ashok Pratap Arora suggests that, Osscube Media 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.

Need for greater diversity

– Osscube Media 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 dependence on star products

– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media 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 Osscube Media has relatively successful track record of launching new products.

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Opportunities OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media | 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 OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media are -

Learning at scale

– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Osscube Media 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.

Loyalty marketing

– Osscube Media 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.

Low interest rates

– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Osscube Media 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 Osscube Media has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Osscube Media to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media case study. Osscube Media can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.

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 Osscube Media to reconfigure its entire business model. For example it can used blockchain based technologies to reduce piracy of its products in the big markets such as China. Secondly it can use the popularity of e-commerce in various developing markets to build a Direct to Customer business model rather than the current Channel Heavy distribution network.

Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains

– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Osscube Media 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, OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.

Better consumer reach

– The expansion of the 5G network will help Osscube Media to increase its market reach. Osscube Media 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.

Leveraging digital technologies

– Osscube Media 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.

Developing new processes and practices

– Osscube Media can develop new processes and procedures in Global Business 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.

Building a culture of innovation

– managers at Osscube Media 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 Global Business segment.

Finding new ways to collaborate

– Covid-19 has not only transformed business models of companies in Global Business industry, but it has also influenced the consumer preferences. Osscube Media can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.

Using analytics as competitive advantage

– Osscube Media 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 OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Osscube Media to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.

Changes in consumer behavior post Covid-19

– Consumer behavior has changed in the Global Business industry because of Covid-19 restrictions. Some of this behavior will stay once things get back to normal. Osscube Media 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. Osscube Media 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.

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Threats OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The threats mentioned in the HBR case study OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media are -

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 Osscube Media.

Shortening product life cycle

– it is one of the major threat that Osscube Media is facing in Global Business 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 OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media, Osscube Media may face longer learning curve for training and development of existing employees. This can open space for more nimble competitors in the field of Global Business .

Increasing wage structure of Osscube Media

– 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 Osscube Media.

Environmental challenges

– Osscube Media 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. Osscube Media can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Global Business industry.

Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins

– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Osscube Media 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 OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media .

Barriers of entry lowering

– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Osscube Media with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.

Instability in the European markets

– European Union markets are facing three big challenges post Covid – expanded balance sheets, Brexit related business disruption, and aggressive Russia looking to distract the existing security mechanism. Osscube Media will face different problems in different parts of Europe. For example it will face inflationary pressures in UK, France, and Germany, balance sheet expansion and demand challenges in Southern European countries, and geopolitical instability in the Eastern Europe.

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. Osscube Media needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Global Business industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.

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.

Easy access to finance

– Easy access to finance in Global Business field will also reduce the barriers to entry in the industry, thus putting downward pressure on the prices because of increasing competition. Osscube Media can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.

Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution

– Osscube Media has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Global Business industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Osscube Media needs to keep up with the evolution of technology in the Global Business 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.

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.

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Weighted SWOT Analysis of OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media 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 OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media 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 OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media 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 OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media 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 OSSCube: Leveraging Social Media 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 Osscube Media needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.

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