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Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution

Case Study Description of Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem


The case tracks the creation and growth of a social enterprise, Made By Survivors (MBS), founded by Sarah Symons and John Berger. Inspired by a documentary on sex trafficking and a visit to a Nepalese non-profit that helped women freed from sex trafficking (survivors), Symons conceived the idea for a business that would help survivors become financially independent and restore their lives. With Berger's help, she launched MBS to sell handicrafts, stationery, and home goods in the United States, all products that were made by survivors in several countries, thus providing them a source of income. To grow sales, the co-founders tried different means of selling, altering the product mix, partnering with suppliers, starting production on their own, and designing products to increase appeal to U.S. customers. The case ends with the co-founders wondering how to multiply revenue to benefit greater numbers of survivors. Should they modify their business model or adopt a new one? Modify their organization's mission and identity? The case asks students to generate ideas for high growth and determine MBS's strategic direction.

Authors :: Gaurab Bhardwaj, Elizabeth Swanson Goldberg

Topics :: Leadership & Managing People

Tags :: , SWOT Analysis, SWOT Matrix, TOWS, Weighted SWOT Analysis

Swot Analysis of "Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem" written by Gaurab Bhardwaj, Elizabeth Swanson Goldberg includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Survivors Symons facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, and Leadership & Managing People.


Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem casestudy better are - – increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, there is increasing trade war between United States & China, increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , geopolitical disruptions, increasing commodity prices, etc



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Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem


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




Strengths Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The strengths of Survivors Symons in Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem Harvard Business Review case study are -

Sustainable margins compare to other players in Leadership & Managing People industry

– Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Survivors Symons to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Leadership & Managing People industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Survivors Symons to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.

Effective Research and Development (R&D)

– Survivors Symons 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 Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.

Operational resilience

– The operational resilience strategy in the Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem 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.

Cross disciplinary teams

– Horizontal connected teams at the Survivors Symons 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.

Learning organization

- Survivors Symons 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 Survivors Symons is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.

Strong track record of project management

– Survivors Symons is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.

Highly skilled collaborators

– Survivors Symons 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 Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.

Ability to recruit top talent

– Survivors Symons is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.

Low bargaining power of suppliers

– Suppliers of Survivors Symons in the sector have low bargaining power. Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Survivors Symons to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.

High switching costs

– The high switching costs that Survivors Symons 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.

Successful track record of launching new products

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

Digital Transformation in Leadership & Managing People segment

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



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Net Promoter Score



Weaknesses Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis

The weaknesses of Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem are -

Low market penetration in new markets

– Outside its home market of Survivors Symons, firm in the HBR case study Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.

Capital Spending Reduction

– Even during the low interest decade, Survivors Symons 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.

High dependence on star products

– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem 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 Survivors Symons has relatively successful track record of launching new products.

Need for greater diversity

– Survivors Symons 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.

Slow to harness new channels of communication

– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Survivors Symons is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.

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 Survivors Symons supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Survivors Symons vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.

Workers concerns about automation

– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Survivors Symons 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.

Ability to respond to the competition

– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem, in the dynamic environment Survivors Symons has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Survivors Symons has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.

Compensation and incentives

– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem, is just above the industry average. Survivors Symons 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 Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem, it seems that the employees of Survivors Symons 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 cash cycle compare to competitors

Survivors Symons 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.




Opportunities Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem | 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 Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem are -

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. Survivors Symons 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, Survivors Symons can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Survivors Symons operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Leadership & Managing People sector.

Redefining models of collaboration and team work

– As explained in the weaknesses section, Survivors Symons is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem case study suggests that firm can utilize new technology to build more coordinated teams and streamline operations and communications using tools such as CAD, Zoom, etc.

Lowering marketing communication costs

– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Survivors Symons in the field of marketing communication. It will bring down the cost of doing business, provide technology platform to build new products in the Leadership & Managing People segment, and it will provide faster access to the consumers.

Better consumer reach

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

Creating value in data economy

– The success of analytics program of Survivors Symons has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Survivors Symons to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem case study. Survivors Symons can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.

Using analytics as competitive advantage

– Survivors Symons 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 Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Survivors Symons to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.

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 Survivors Symons 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.

Manufacturing automation

– Survivors Symons 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.

Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains

– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Survivors Symons 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, Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.

Loyalty marketing

– Survivors Symons 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, Survivors Symons 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.

Developing new processes and practices

– Survivors Symons can develop new processes and procedures in Leadership & Managing People 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.




Threats Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis


The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem are -

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 Survivors Symons in the Leadership & Managing People sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.

Stagnating economy with rate increase

– Survivors Symons 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.

Consumer confidence and its impact on Survivors Symons 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.

Easy access to finance

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

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 Survivors Symons business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.

Shortening product life cycle

– it is one of the major threat that Survivors Symons is facing in Leadership & Managing People sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.

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. Survivors Symons needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Leadership & Managing People industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.

Trade war between China and United States

– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Survivors Symons in the Leadership & Managing People industry. The Leadership & Managing People 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.

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

– Survivors Symons 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.

Barriers of entry lowering

– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Survivors Symons 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. Survivors Symons 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.

Increasing wage structure of Survivors Symons

– 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 Survivors Symons.




Weighted SWOT Analysis of Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem 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 Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem 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 Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem 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 Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem 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 Made by Survivors: Business Solution for a Social Problem 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 Survivors Symons needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.



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