University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer
Both universities and firms are engaged in the same overarching dynamic technological innovation processes. All researchers pursue a combination of the three Fs of fame, fortune, and freedom regardless of whether they are academic or corporate. It is the different alignments of incentives and constraints that induce academic researchers to have a comparative advantage in some kinds of innovation and those in commercial R&D to have a comparative advantage in other kinds of innovation. This results in a division of innovative labor and creates opportunities for gains to be made from trade in technologies. Offices of technology transfer were created to improve this flow of trade between university research and industry by patenting and marketing university research results and fostering startups using university technologies. This article examines the business of technology transfer. The extent of university patenting is still very small relative to industry, and technology transfer revenues are still very small relative to university research budgets. Although university technology transfer is growing rapidly, the policy foundations and the marketing models on which it is built will need to evolve further to better fit the underlying economic realities of the dynamic technological innovation processes they are intended to promote.
Authors :: Gregory Graff, Amir Heiman, David Zilberman
Swot Analysis of "University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer" written by Gregory Graff, Amir Heiman, David Zilberman includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Transfer University facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Policy, Technology and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer casestudy better are - – technology disruption, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, wage bills are increasing, digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion,
there is increasing trade war between United States & China, there is backlash against globalization, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Transfer University, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Transfer University 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 University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Transfer University
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in Innovation & Entrepreneurship field.
4. Making a Innovation & Entrepreneurship topic specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Transfer University
Strengths University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Transfer University in University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer Harvard Business Review case study are -
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Transfer University in the sector have low bargaining power. University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Transfer University to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Innovation driven organization
– Transfer University is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Transfer University 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 University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Training and development
– Transfer University has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer 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.
Strong track record of project management
– Transfer University 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 brand equity
– Transfer University has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Transfer University to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Organizational Resilience of Transfer University
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Transfer University does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer 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.
Learning organization
- Transfer University 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 Transfer University is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Ability to lead change in Innovation & Entrepreneurship field
– Transfer University 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 Transfer University in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that Transfer University 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.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Transfer University 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 University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Weaknesses University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer are -
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer, is just above the industry average. Transfer University 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.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer, in the dynamic environment Transfer University has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Transfer University has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Transfer University 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.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer 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 University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Transfer University is planning to shift buying processes online.
High dependence on star products
– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer 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 Transfer University has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
High bargaining power of channel partners
– Because of the regulatory requirements, Gregory Graff, Amir Heiman, David Zilberman suggests that, Transfer University 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.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer 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 Transfer University 's lucrative customers.
Need for greater diversity
– Transfer University 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.
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Transfer University 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.
No frontier risks strategy
– After analyzing the HBR case study University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer, it seems that company is thinking about the frontier risks that can impact Innovation & Entrepreneurship strategy. But it has very little resources allocation to manage the risks emerging from events such as natural disasters, climate change, melting of permafrost, tacking the rise of artificial intelligence, opportunities and threats emerging from commercialization of space etc.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Transfer University is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship segment. Transfer University needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Transfer University to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
Opportunities University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer | 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 University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer are -
Finding new ways to collaborate
– Covid-19 has not only transformed business models of companies in Innovation & Entrepreneurship industry, but it has also influenced the consumer preferences. Transfer University can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Transfer University 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 Transfer University has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Transfer University to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer case study. Transfer University can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Transfer University 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 Innovation & Entrepreneurship segment.
Leveraging digital technologies
– Transfer University 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.
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 Transfer University in the consumer business. Now Transfer University can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Manufacturing automation
– Transfer University can use the latest technology developments to improve its manufacturing and designing process in Innovation & Entrepreneurship 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.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Transfer University to increase its market reach. Transfer University will be able to reach out to new customers. Secondly 5G will also provide technology framework to build new tools and products that can help more immersive consumer experience and faster consumer journey.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Transfer University in the field of marketing communication. It will bring down the cost of doing business, provide technology platform to build new products in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship segment, and it will provide faster access to the consumers.
Buying journey improvements
– Transfer University can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer 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.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Transfer University can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Transfer University operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Innovation & Entrepreneurship sector.
Developing new processes and practices
– Transfer University can develop new processes and procedures in Innovation & Entrepreneurship 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.
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. Transfer University can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Threats University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer are -
Increasing wage structure of Transfer University
– 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 Transfer University.
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Transfer University has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Transfer University needs to keep up with the evolution of technology in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship 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.
Easy access to finance
– Easy access to finance in Innovation & Entrepreneurship field will also reduce the barriers to entry in the industry, thus putting downward pressure on the prices because of increasing competition. Transfer University can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Transfer University 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.
High dependence on third party suppliers
– Transfer University 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.
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 Transfer University business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Transfer University with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Transfer University 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.
Environmental challenges
– Transfer University 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. Transfer University can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship industry.
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.
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. Transfer University 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.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Transfer University in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship industry. The Innovation & Entrepreneurship 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.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer 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 University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer 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 University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer 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 University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer 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 University Research and Offices of Technology Transfer 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 Transfer University needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
