Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Leadership & Managing People
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video)
This video case uses the story of an orchestra which seeks to manage without a conductor as a metaphor for the nature and role of leadership in an organization. The video examines, over time and through rehearsals and tours, the trials and triumphs of the Orpheus orchestra, focusing on internal tensions and debates based in its group management approach. Interviews with individual members capture the disparate needs and viewpoints within the group. The case can be used as the basis for discussion of an underlying precepts of leadership, as well as discussion of communal or Utopian approaches to organizational management. DVD Run Time: 00:26:06
Authors :: J. Richard Hackman, Alexandra De Gonzalvez, Erin Lehman
Swot Analysis of "Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video)" written by J. Richard Hackman, Alexandra De Gonzalvez, Erin Lehman includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Orchestra Orpheus facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, Leadership, Organizational culture, Organizational structure and Leadership & Managing People.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) casestudy better are - – banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, there is backlash against globalization, geopolitical disruptions, increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, increasing household debt because of falling income levels, increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%,
there is increasing trade war between United States & China, increasing commodity prices, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video)
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Orchestra Orpheus, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Orchestra Orpheus 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 Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Orchestra Orpheus
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 Orchestra Orpheus
Strengths Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Orchestra Orpheus in Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) Harvard Business Review case study are -
Training and development
– Orchestra Orpheus has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) 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.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Leadership & Managing People industry
– Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Orchestra Orpheus to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Leadership & Managing People industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Orchestra Orpheus to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Digital Transformation in Leadership & Managing People segment
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Orchestra Orpheus digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Orchestra Orpheus 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.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Orchestra Orpheus is one of the leading recruiters in the industry. Managers in the Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) are in a position to attract the best talent available. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that Orchestra Orpheus 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.
Organizational Resilience of Orchestra Orpheus
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Orchestra Orpheus does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Orchestra Orpheus 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 Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Diverse revenue streams
– Orchestra Orpheus is present in almost all the verticals within the industry. This has provided firm in Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) 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.
Ability to lead change in Leadership & Managing People field
– Orchestra Orpheus 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 Orchestra Orpheus in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Learning organization
- Orchestra Orpheus 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 Orchestra Orpheus is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders in Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) Harvard Business Review case study emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Orchestra Orpheus in the sector have low bargaining power. Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Orchestra Orpheus to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Innovation driven organization
– Orchestra Orpheus is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Weaknesses Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) are -
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of Orchestra Orpheus, firm in the HBR case study Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) 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 Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Orchestra Orpheus is planning to shift buying processes online.
Lack of clear differentiation of Orchestra Orpheus products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Orchestra Orpheus 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, Orchestra Orpheus 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, Orchestra Orpheus is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
High bargaining power of channel partners
– Because of the regulatory requirements, J. Richard Hackman, Alexandra De Gonzalvez, Erin Lehman suggests that, Orchestra Orpheus 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.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) 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 Orchestra Orpheus 's lucrative customers.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Orchestra Orpheus is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Leadership & Managing People segment. Orchestra Orpheus needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Orchestra Orpheus to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
Slow decision making process
– As mentioned earlier in the report, Orchestra Orpheus has a very deliberative decision making approach. This approach has resulted in prudent decisions, but it has also resulted in missing opportunities in the industry over the last five years. Orchestra Orpheus even though has strong showing on digital transformation primary two stages, it has struggled to capitalize the power of digital transformation in marketing efforts and new venture efforts.
Employees’ incomplete understanding of strategy
– From the instances in the HBR case study Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video), it seems that the employees of Orchestra Orpheus 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.
Products dominated business model
– Even though Orchestra Orpheus 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 - Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
Opportunities Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) | 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 Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) are -
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– Orchestra Orpheus 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 Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Orchestra Orpheus to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Orchestra Orpheus to increase its market reach. Orchestra Orpheus 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.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Orchestra Orpheus can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Orchestra Orpheus operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Leadership & Managing People sector.
Leveraging digital technologies
– Orchestra Orpheus 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.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of Orchestra Orpheus has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in the industry. This can help Orchestra Orpheus to build a more holistic ecosystem as suggested in the Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) case study. Orchestra Orpheus can build new products and services such as - data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Orchestra Orpheus is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) 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.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Orchestra Orpheus 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, Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video), 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
– Orchestra Orpheus 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.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Orchestra Orpheus 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 Orchestra Orpheus to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for Orchestra Orpheus 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.
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. Orchestra Orpheus 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. Orchestra Orpheus 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.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Orchestra Orpheus 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.
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. Orchestra Orpheus can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
Threats Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) are -
Environmental challenges
– Orchestra Orpheus 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. Orchestra Orpheus can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Leadership & Managing People industry.
Increasing wage structure of Orchestra Orpheus
– 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 Orchestra Orpheus.
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.
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video), Orchestra Orpheus 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
– Orchestra Orpheus 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.
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 Orchestra Orpheus business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
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. Orchestra Orpheus can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Orchestra Orpheus 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 Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) .
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. Orchestra Orpheus 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.
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.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Orchestra Orpheus with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Orchestra Orpheus 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 Orchestra Orpheus in the Leadership & Managing People sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) 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 Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) 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 Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) 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 Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) 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 Nobody on the Podium: Lessons about Leadership from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Video) 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 Orchestra Orpheus needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
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