Case Study Description of AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce
Resource Link is an in-house temporary firm, supplying managers and technical workers to the 26 business units of AT&T on a contract basis. The challenge facing Resource Link is how to grow, since an increasing number of managers are eager to use variable workers to staff their businesses. Resource Link must decide whether to bring outsiders into the pool or to continue to rely on AT&T employees who choose this way of working.
Swot Analysis of "AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce" written by Jeffrey L. Bradach, Nicole Sackley includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Link Resource facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Human resource management, Organizational structure and Leadership & Managing People.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce casestudy better are - – geopolitical disruptions, digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, increasing commodity prices, cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, increasing transportation and logistics costs, competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy,
technology disruption, wage bills are increasing, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Link Resource, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Link Resource 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 AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Link Resource
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 Link Resource
Strengths AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Link Resource in AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce Harvard Business Review case study are -
High brand equity
– Link Resource has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Link Resource to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Link Resource is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Innovation driven organization
– Link Resource is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce 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 Link Resource 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.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Link Resource 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 AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce HBR case study have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Learning organization
- Link Resource 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 Link Resource is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Digital Transformation in Leadership & Managing People segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Link Resource digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Link Resource 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.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Link Resource in the sector have low bargaining power. AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Link Resource to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Leadership & Managing People industry
– AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Link Resource to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Leadership & Managing People industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Link Resource to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Strong track record of project management
– Link Resource is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
Ability to lead change in Leadership & Managing People field
– Link Resource is one of the leading players in its industry. Over the years it has not only transformed the business landscape in its segment but also across the whole industry. The ability to lead change has enabled Link Resource in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Weaknesses AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce are -
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce, it seems that the employees of Link Resource 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.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce, in the dynamic environment Link Resource has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Link Resource has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
Products dominated business model
– Even though Link Resource has some of the most successful products in the industry, this business model has made each new product launch extremely critical for continuous financial growth of the organization. firm in the HBR case study - AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce 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 AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Link Resource is planning to shift buying processes online.
Slow to strategic competitive environment developments
– As AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce HBR case study mentions - Link Resource 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.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Link Resource 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.
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 Link Resource supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Link Resource vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
High dependence on star products
– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce 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 Link Resource has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
Need for greater diversity
– Link Resource 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.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Link Resource is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Leadership & Managing People segment. Link Resource needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Link Resource to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
High bargaining power of channel partners
– Because of the regulatory requirements, Jeffrey L. Bradach, Nicole Sackley suggests that, Link Resource 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 AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce | 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 AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce are -
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Link Resource 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, AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Developing new processes and practices
– Link Resource 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.
Changes in consumer behavior post Covid-19
– Consumer behavior has changed in the Leadership & Managing People industry because of Covid-19 restrictions. Some of this behavior will stay once things get back to normal. Link Resource 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. Link Resource 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.
Loyalty marketing
– Link Resource 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.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Link Resource 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.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Link Resource can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Link Resource operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Leadership & Managing People sector.
Manufacturing automation
– Link Resource 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.
Buying journey improvements
– Link Resource can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce 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, Link Resource 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.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Link Resource to increase its market reach. Link Resource 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, Link Resource is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce 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.
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. Link Resource can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Link Resource 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 Link Resource to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
Threats AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce are -
Regulatory challenges
– Link Resource 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.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Link Resource 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.
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce, Link Resource 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 .
High dependence on third party suppliers
– Link Resource 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.
Increasing wage structure of Link Resource
– 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 Link Resource.
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. Link Resource needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Leadership & Managing People industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Link Resource is facing in Leadership & Managing People sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Link Resource 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.
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 Link Resource in the Leadership & Managing People sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– Link Resource has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Leadership & Managing People industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, Link Resource 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.
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.
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. Link Resource 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 international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Link Resource 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 AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce .
Weighted SWOT Analysis of AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce 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 AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce 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 AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce 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 AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce 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 AT&T Resource Link: Revisioning the Managerial Workforce 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 Link Resource needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.