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Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution

Case Study Description of Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries


The Singapore Public Library system was transformed from being mediocre at best to world class using information technology, progressive human resources management, and marketing approaches unusual for governmental agencies.

Authors :: Roger Hallowell, Carin-Isabel Knoop, Boon Siong Neo

Topics :: Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Tags :: Disruptive innovation, Government, Human resource management, IT, Marketing, Supply chain, SWOT Analysis, SWOT Matrix, TOWS, Weighted SWOT Analysis

Swot Analysis of "Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries" written by Roger Hallowell, Carin-Isabel Knoop, Boon Siong Neo includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Mediocre Libraries facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Disruptive innovation, Government, Human resource management, IT, Marketing, Supply chain and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.


Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries casestudy better are - – cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, there is backlash against globalization, technology disruption, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, increasing transportation and logistics costs, etc



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Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries


SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Mediocre Libraries, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Mediocre Libraries 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 Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Mediocre Libraries
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 Mediocre Libraries




Strengths Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The strengths of Mediocre Libraries in Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries Harvard Business Review case study are -

Innovation driven organization

– Mediocre Libraries is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.

Successful track record of launching new products

– Mediocre Libraries has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Mediocre Libraries 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.

Superior customer experience

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

Cross disciplinary teams

– Horizontal connected teams at the Mediocre Libraries 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.

Operational resilience

– The operational resilience strategy in the Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries 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

- Mediocre Libraries 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 Mediocre Libraries is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.

Digital Transformation in Innovation & Entrepreneurship segment

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

Ability to recruit top talent

– Mediocre Libraries is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.

Analytics focus

– Mediocre Libraries 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 Roger Hallowell, Carin-Isabel Knoop, Boon Siong Neo 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.

Organizational Resilience of Mediocre Libraries

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

Low bargaining power of suppliers

– Suppliers of Mediocre Libraries in the sector have low bargaining power. Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Mediocre Libraries to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.

Highly skilled collaborators

– Mediocre Libraries 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 Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.






Weaknesses Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The weaknesses of Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries are -

Ability to respond to the competition

– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries, in the dynamic environment Mediocre Libraries has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Mediocre Libraries has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.

Slow to harness new channels of communication

– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Mediocre Libraries is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.

Increasing silos among functional specialists

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

Capital Spending Reduction

– Even during the low interest decade, Mediocre Libraries has not been able to do capital spending to the tune of the competition. This has resulted into fewer innovations and company facing stiff competition from both existing competitors and new entrants who are disrupting the industry using digital technology.

Skills based hiring

– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Mediocre Libraries 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 Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries HBR case study mentions - Mediocre Libraries 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 star products

– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries 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 Mediocre Libraries has relatively successful track record of launching new products.

Lack of clear differentiation of Mediocre Libraries products

– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Mediocre Libraries needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.

Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy

– From the instances in the HBR case study Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries, it seems that the employees of Mediocre Libraries 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.

Slow decision making process

– As mentioned earlier in the report, Mediocre Libraries 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. Mediocre Libraries even though has strong showing on digital transformation primary two stages, it has struggled to capitalize the power of digital transformation in marketing efforts and new venture efforts.

High bargaining power of channel partners

– Because of the regulatory requirements, Roger Hallowell, Carin-Isabel Knoop, Boon Siong Neo suggests that, Mediocre Libraries 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.




Opportunities Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries | 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 Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries are -

Developing new processes and practices

– Mediocre Libraries 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.

Low interest rates

– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Mediocre Libraries 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.

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 Mediocre Libraries 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.

Building a culture of innovation

– managers at Mediocre Libraries 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.

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. Mediocre Libraries can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.

Increase in government spending

– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Mediocre Libraries can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Mediocre Libraries operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Innovation & Entrepreneurship sector.

Reforming the budgeting process

- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Mediocre Libraries can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.

Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains

– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Mediocre Libraries 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, Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.

Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities

– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Mediocre Libraries 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 Mediocre Libraries to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.

Changes in consumer behavior post Covid-19

– Consumer behavior has changed in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship industry because of Covid-19 restrictions. Some of this behavior will stay once things get back to normal. Mediocre Libraries 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. Mediocre Libraries 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.

Creating value in data economy

– The success of analytics program of Mediocre Libraries has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Mediocre Libraries to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries case study. Mediocre Libraries can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.

Use of Bitcoin and other crypto currencies for transactions

– The popularity of Bitcoin and other crypto currencies as asset class and medium of transaction has opened new opportunities for Mediocre Libraries in the consumer business. Now Mediocre Libraries can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.

Lowering marketing communication costs

– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Mediocre Libraries 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.




Threats Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis


The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries are -

Environmental challenges

– Mediocre Libraries 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. Mediocre Libraries can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship industry.

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. Mediocre Libraries can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.

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.

Consumer confidence and its impact on Mediocre Libraries 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.

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. Mediocre Libraries 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.

Shortening product life cycle

– it is one of the major threat that Mediocre Libraries is facing in Innovation & Entrepreneurship sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.

Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins

– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Mediocre Libraries 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 Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries .

Barriers of entry lowering

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

Stagnating economy with rate increase

– Mediocre Libraries 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.

Regulatory challenges

– Mediocre Libraries 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 Innovation & Entrepreneurship industry regulations.

Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution

– Mediocre Libraries has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Mediocre Libraries 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.

High dependence on third party suppliers

– Mediocre Libraries 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.

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 Mediocre Libraries in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.




Weighted SWOT Analysis of Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries 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 Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries 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 Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries 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 Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries 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 Transforming Singapore's Public Libraries 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 Mediocre Libraries needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.



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