Case Study Description of Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars
This is a Darden case study.The Charlotte Cougars are in the midst of discussions regarding the sponsorship by Burger Bell of the Cougars Cub Club. Negotiations are nearly complete, but eight issues remain before the contract can be signed. This case, together with its companion case, "Cougars Cub Club: Burger Bell" (UV0701), offers the opportunity for a one-on-one negotiation experience in which differences in priorities provide the basis for creating mutual value. In addition, there are issues that can be classified as congruent as well as those that are unavoidably distributive. As a result, debriefings can focus on both the creation and the claiming of value.
Swot Analysis of "Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars" written by Lauren Mishner, Sherwood C. Frey includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Cougars Cub facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Marketing, Negotiations and Leadership & Managing People.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars casestudy better are - – geopolitical disruptions, digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, increasing commodity prices, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies,
central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, there is increasing trade war between United States & China, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Cougars Cub, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Cougars Cub 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 Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Cougars Cub
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 Cougars Cub
Strengths Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Cougars Cub in Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars Harvard Business Review case study are -
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Leadership & Managing People industry
– Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Cougars Cub to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Leadership & Managing People industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Cougars Cub to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Organizational Resilience of Cougars Cub
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Cougars Cub 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 Cougars Cub in the sector have low bargaining power. Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Cougars Cub to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars 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.
Training and development
– Cougars Cub has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars 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.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Cougars Cub 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 Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Cougars Cub 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.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Cougars Cub in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Digital Transformation in Leadership & Managing People segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Cougars Cub digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Cougars Cub 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.
Analytics focus
– Cougars Cub 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 Lauren Mishner, Sherwood C. Frey 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.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Cougars Cub is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Successful track record of launching new products
– Cougars Cub has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Cougars Cub 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.
Weaknesses Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars are -
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Cougars Cub 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.
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Cougars Cub, firm in the HBR case study Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars 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 Cougars Cub 's lucrative customers.
High bargaining power of channel partners
– Because of the regulatory requirements, Lauren Mishner, Sherwood C. Frey suggests that, Cougars Cub 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.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Cougars Cub is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Leadership & Managing People segment. Cougars Cub needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Cougars Cub to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
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 Cougars Cub supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Cougars Cub vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars 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 Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Cougars Cub 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 Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars 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 Cougars Cub has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
Capital Spending Reduction
– Even during the low interest decade, Cougars Cub 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.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Cougars Cub is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars, it seems that the employees of Cougars Cub 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.
Opportunities Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars | 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 Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars are -
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– Cougars Cub 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 Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Cougars Cub to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
Developing new processes and practices
– Cougars Cub 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.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Cougars Cub 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, Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Finding new ways to collaborate
– Covid-19 has not only transformed business models of companies in Leadership & Managing People industry, but it has also influenced the consumer preferences. Cougars Cub can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
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 Cougars Cub 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
– Cougars Cub 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.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Cougars Cub 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.
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 Cougars Cub in the consumer business. Now Cougars Cub can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Buying journey improvements
– Cougars Cub can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars 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.
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. Cougars Cub can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Cougars Cub to increase its market reach. Cougars Cub 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.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Cougars Cub is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars 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.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Cougars Cub 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 Cougars Cub to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
Threats Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars are -
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.
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 Cougars Cub business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars, Cougars Cub 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 .
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Cougars Cub is facing in Leadership & Managing People sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
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 Cougars Cub in the Leadership & Managing People sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Cougars Cub 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 Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars .
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Cougars Cub has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Leadership & Managing People industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Cougars Cub needs to keep up with the evolution of technology in the Leadership & Managing People 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 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. Cougars Cub can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Cougars Cub 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
– Cougars Cub 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.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Cougars Cub 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.
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 Cougars Cub.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars 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 Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars 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 Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars 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 Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars 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 Cougars Cub Club: Charlotte Cougars 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 Cougars Cub needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.