John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Leadership & Managing People
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation
In October 2015, five years had passed since John Trautwein's oldest son, Will, had taken his own life. Trautwein, a former Major League Baseball player, was now president and chief operating officer of an information technology solutions company, and president and co-founder of the Will to Live Foundation. He had started the Will to Live foundation to save lives and honour his son, but was concerned about developing a long-term strategy and suitable performance metrics for the organization. He also wanted to identify a suitable balance between his work, his foundation, and his family. Since 2010, Trautwein had delivered many presentations and speeches to schools, teams, coaches, and religious groups in order to spread the message that teen suicide was a national epidemic and that people needed to talk openly and candidly about it. Yet he knew that he could not continue to devote this much time to only one aspect of his life. How could Trautwein grow the foundation while prioritizing his family and his own well-being? Stewart Robert Miller is affiliated with College of Business One UTSA Circle.
Swot Analysis of "John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation" written by Stewart Robert Miller includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Trautwein Foundation facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Strategy execution and Leadership & Managing People.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation casestudy better are - – increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%, technology disruption, talent flight as more people leaving formal jobs, digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, increasing commodity prices, central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, increasing household debt because of falling income levels,
there is backlash against globalization, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Trautwein Foundation, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Trautwein Foundation 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 John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Trautwein Foundation
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 Trautwein Foundation
Strengths John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Trautwein Foundation in John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation Harvard Business Review case study are -
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Trautwein Foundation 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 John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Learning organization
- Trautwein Foundation 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 Trautwein Foundation is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
High brand equity
– Trautwein Foundation has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Trautwein Foundation to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Leadership & Managing People industry
– John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Trautwein Foundation to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Leadership & Managing People industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Trautwein Foundation to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Trautwein Foundation in the sector have low bargaining power. John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Trautwein Foundation to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation 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.
Successful track record of launching new products
– Trautwein Foundation has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Trautwein Foundation 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.
Ability to lead change in Leadership & Managing People field
– Trautwein Foundation 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 Trautwein Foundation in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Trautwein Foundation in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Analytics focus
– Trautwein Foundation 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 Stewart Robert Miller 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.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that Trautwein Foundation 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.
Digital Transformation in Leadership & Managing People segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Trautwein Foundation digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Trautwein Foundation 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.
Weaknesses John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation are -
Lack of clear differentiation of Trautwein Foundation products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Trautwein Foundation needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Trautwein Foundation 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.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Trautwein Foundation is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Trautwein Foundation, firm in the HBR case study John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
Slow to strategic competitive environment developments
– As John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation HBR case study mentions - Trautwein Foundation 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.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Trautwein Foundation is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Leadership & Managing People segment. Trautwein Foundation needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Trautwein Foundation to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
Capital Spending Reduction
– Even during the low interest decade, Trautwein Foundation 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.
Compensation and incentives
– The revenue per employee as mentioned in the HBR case study John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation, is just above the industry average. Trautwein Foundation 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.
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 Trautwein Foundation supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes mentioned in the HBR case study - John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation, it is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Trautwein Foundation 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 John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation 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 Trautwein Foundation has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative, highlighted in the case study John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation, in the dynamic environment Trautwein Foundation has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Trautwein Foundation has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
Opportunities John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation | 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 John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation are -
Buying journey improvements
– Trautwein Foundation can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation 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.
Leveraging digital technologies
– Trautwein Foundation can leverage digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate the production process, customer analytics to get better insights into consumer behavior, realtime digital dashboards to get better sales tracking, logistics and transportation, product tracking, etc.
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 Trautwein Foundation in the consumer business. Now Trautwein Foundation can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Manufacturing automation
– Trautwein Foundation 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.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Trautwein Foundation can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Trautwein Foundation 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.
Loyalty marketing
– Trautwein Foundation 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.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Trautwein Foundation 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, John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
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. Trautwein Foundation 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. Trautwein Foundation 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.
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. Trautwein Foundation can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Trautwein Foundation can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Trautwein Foundation operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Leadership & Managing People sector.
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. Trautwein Foundation can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Developing new processes and practices
– Trautwein Foundation 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 John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation are -
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.
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation, Trautwein Foundation 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 .
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 Trautwein Foundation in the Leadership & Managing People sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Regulatory challenges
– Trautwein Foundation 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.
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 Trautwein Foundation.
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. Trautwein Foundation needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Leadership & Managing People industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Increasing wage structure of Trautwein Foundation
– 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 Trautwein Foundation.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– Trautwein Foundation can face lack of demand in the market place because of Fed actions to reduce inflation. This can lead to sluggish growth in the economy, lower demands, lower investments, higher borrowing costs, and consolidation in the field.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Trautwein Foundation with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Trautwein Foundation demand
– There is a high probability of declining consumer confidence, given – high inflammation rate, rise of gig economy, lower job stability, increasing cost of living, higher interest rates, and aging demography. All the factors contribute to people saving higher rate of their income, resulting in lower consumer demand in the industry and other sectors.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Trautwein Foundation 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 John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation .
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 Trautwein Foundation business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
Environmental challenges
– Trautwein Foundation needs to have a robust strategy against the disruptions arising from climate change and energy requirements. EU has identified it as key priority area and spending 30% of its 880 billion Euros European post Covid-19 recovery funds on green technology. Trautwein Foundation can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Leadership & Managing People industry.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation 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 John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation 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 John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation 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 John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation 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 John Trautwein and the Will to Live Foundation 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 Trautwein Foundation needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
