Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Leadership & Managing People
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force
The SEALs are the elite special forces of the U.S. Navy. Their selection and training is exceptionally rigorous, with a heavy emphasis on physical condition, stamina, and mental toughness. However, the SEALs have a wide range of missions, many of which are highly sensitive. The case takes place in 2014, as the head of the command charged with SEAL selection and training considers whether some candidates who would make excellent SEALs are being excluded, and some that might be poor in the field are passing. The case examines the selection and training process, and suggests some changes that might be considered.
Authors :: Hayagreeva Rao, Carter Bowen, Gib Lopez
Swot Analysis of "Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force" written by Hayagreeva Rao, Carter Bowen, Gib Lopez includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Seals Training facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Government, Hiring, Talent management and Leadership & Managing People.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force casestudy better are - – increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, increasing transportation and logistics costs, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, wage bills are increasing,
geopolitical disruptions, increasing commodity prices, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Seals Training, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Seals Training 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 Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Seals Training
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in Leadership & Managing People field.
4. Making a Leadership & Managing People topic specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Seals Training
Strengths Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Seals Training in Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force Harvard Business Review case study are -
Diverse revenue streams
– Seals Training is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force 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.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that Seals Training 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
– Seals Training 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 Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Leadership & Managing People industry
– Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Seals Training to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Leadership & Managing People industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Seals Training to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Seals Training 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.
Analytics focus
– Seals Training 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 Hayagreeva Rao, Carter Bowen, Gib Lopez 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.
Strong track record of project management
– Seals Training is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Seals Training in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Seals Training is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Digital Transformation in Leadership & Managing People segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Seals Training digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Seals Training 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.
Successful track record of launching new products
– Seals Training has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Seals Training 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.
Learning organization
- Seals Training 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 Seals Training is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Weaknesses Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force are -
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force 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 Seals Training 's lucrative customers.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force, in the dynamic environment Seals Training has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Seals Training has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
Interest costs
– Compare to the competition, Seals Training has borrowed money from the capital market at higher rates. It needs to restructure the interest payment and costs so that it can compete better and improve profitability.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force 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 Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Seals Training is planning to shift buying processes online.
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Seals Training 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.
Need for greater diversity
– Seals Training 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.
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Seals Training, firm in the HBR case study Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Seals Training 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 Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force HBR case study mentions - Seals Training 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.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force, it seems that the employees of Seals Training 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, Seals Training 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. Seals Training 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.
Opportunities Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force | 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 Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force are -
Buying journey improvements
– Seals Training can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force 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.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Seals Training 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.
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 Seals Training in the consumer business. Now Seals Training can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Seals Training is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force 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.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Seals Training to increase its market reach. Seals Training 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.
Loyalty marketing
– Seals Training 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.
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 Seals Training 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.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of Seals Training has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Seals Training to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force case study. Seals Training can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Seals Training 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 Seals Training to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
Manufacturing automation
– Seals Training can use the latest technology developments to improve its manufacturing and designing process in Leadership & Managing People 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.
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– Seals Training 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 Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Seals Training to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Seals Training 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.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Seals Training 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 Leadership & Managing People segment.
Threats Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force 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 Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force, Seals Training may face longer learning curve for training and development of existing employees. This can open space for more nimble competitors in the field of Leadership & Managing People .
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 Seals Training.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Seals Training 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 Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force .
High dependence on third party suppliers
– Seals Training 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.
Environmental challenges
– Seals Training 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. Seals Training can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Leadership & Managing People industry.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Seals Training is facing in Leadership & Managing People sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
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.
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 Seals Training business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Seals Training 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.
Increasing wage structure of Seals Training
– 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 Seals Training.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Seals Training 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.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Seals Training with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
Regulatory challenges
– Seals Training 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 Leadership & Managing People industry regulations.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force 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 Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force 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 Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force 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 Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force 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 Navy SEALs: Selecting and Training for an Elite Fighting Force 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 Seals Training needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
