If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Leadership & Managing People
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University
During the first decade of the 21st Century Crandall University, a private Christian liberal arts university in Moncton, NB, Canada experienced significant growth in terms of enrolment and governance structure. If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University examines the dilemma faced by one member of the University's Board of Governors as he seeks to determine how to deal with decisions made by the Board that he believes are not in keeping with the requirements of sound policy governance. The narrative traces the history of the adoption of the Carver model at the University, and examines the role played by the Board in a critical capital expansion decision in 2010. The reader is invited to consider the roles and responsibilities of board members both corporately and individually, and to evaluate the difference between fulfilling the mandate to govern and meddling in the affairs of management.
Swot Analysis of "If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University" written by Robert MacDonald, Heather Steeves includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Crandall University facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Financial management and Leadership & Managing People.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University casestudy better are - – cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, there is backlash against globalization, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , increasing commodity prices, there is increasing trade war between United States & China, increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings,
banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, geopolitical disruptions, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Crandall University, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Crandall University 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 If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Crandall University
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 Crandall University
Strengths If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Crandall University in If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University Harvard Business Review case study are -
Successful track record of launching new products
– Crandall University has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Crandall University 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.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University 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.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Crandall University in the sector have low bargaining power. If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Crandall University to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Digital Transformation in Leadership & Managing People segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Crandall University digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Crandall University 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.
Diverse revenue streams
– Crandall University is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University 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.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Crandall University in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Crandall University is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Analytics focus
– Crandall University 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 Robert MacDonald, Heather Steeves 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.
Learning organization
- Crandall University 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 Crandall University is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Innovation driven organization
– Crandall University is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Cross disciplinary teams
– Horizontal connected teams at the Crandall University 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.
High brand equity
– Crandall University has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Crandall University to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Weaknesses If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University are -
High dependence on star products
– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University 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 Crandall University has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University 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 Crandall University 's lucrative customers.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University, in the dynamic environment Crandall University has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Crandall University has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University 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 If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Crandall University is planning to shift buying processes online.
Skills based hiring
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Crandall University 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.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Crandall University is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Leadership & Managing People segment. Crandall University needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Crandall University 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 Crandall University supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Crandall University vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
Products dominated business model
– Even though Crandall University 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 - If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Crandall University 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.
Need for greater diversity
– Crandall University 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.
Lack of clear differentiation of Crandall University products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Crandall University needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
Opportunities If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University | 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 If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University are -
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 Crandall University in the consumer business. Now Crandall University can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
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. Crandall University 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. Crandall University 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.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Crandall University 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.
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. Crandall University can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Crandall University can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of Crandall University has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Crandall University to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University case study. Crandall University can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
Loyalty marketing
– Crandall University 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.
Manufacturing automation
– Crandall University 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.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Crandall University can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Crandall University operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Leadership & Managing People sector.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Crandall University 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.
Buying journey improvements
– Crandall University can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University 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.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Crandall University 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.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Crandall University to increase its market reach. Crandall University 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.
Threats If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University are -
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. Crandall University can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
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 Crandall University in the Leadership & Managing People sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Increasing wage structure of Crandall University
– 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 Crandall University.
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. Crandall University needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Leadership & Managing People industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
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 Crandall University.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Crandall University 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 If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University .
Technology disruption because of hacks, piracy etc
– The colonial pipeline illustrated, how vulnerable modern organization are to international hackers, miscreants, and disruptors. The cyber security interruption, data leaks, etc can seriously jeopardize the future growth of the organization.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Crandall University 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.
Regulatory challenges
– Crandall University 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.
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 Crandall University business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Crandall University 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.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Crandall University is facing in Leadership & Managing People sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Crandall University 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.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University 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 If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University 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 If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University 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 If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University 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 If We Build It They Will Come: The Role of Governance in Expansion Decisions at Crandall University 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 Crandall University needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
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