Based on various researches at Oak Spring University , Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd is operating in a macro-environment that has been destablized by – increasing household debt because of falling income levels, increasing commodity prices, competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, there is increasing trade war between United States & China, central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, geopolitical disruptions, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic ,
cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, wage bills are increasing, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University, we believe that Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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 Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd
2. Improving business portfolio management of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in India
4. Making a Jewelry & Silverware sector specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd
Strengths of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd are -
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd in the Consumer Cyclical sector have low bargaining power. Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Ability to recruit top talent
– Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd is one of the leading players in the Jewelry & Silverware industry in India. It is in a position to attract the best talent available in India. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
Training and development
– Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd has one of the best training and development program in Consumer Cyclical industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in – employees retention, in-house promotion, loyalty, new venture initiation, lack of conflict, and high level of both employees and customer engagement.
Diverse revenue streams
– Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd is present in almost all the verticals within the Jewelry & Silverware industry. This has provided Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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.
Highly skilled collaborators
– Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd has highly efficient outsourcing and offshoring strategy. It has resulted in greater operational flexibility and bringing down the costs in highly price sensitive Jewelry & Silverware industry. Secondly the value chain collaborators of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Organizational Resilience of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Innovation driven organization
– Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd is one of the most innovative firm in Jewelry & Silverware sector.
Digital Transformation in Jewelry & Silverware industry
- digital transformation varies from industry to industry. For Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd digital transformation journey comprises differing goals based on market maturity, customer technology acceptance, and organizational culture. Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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.
Learning organization
- Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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 Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders at Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd comprises – understanding the underlying the factors in the Jewelry & Silverware 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
– Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Jewelry & Silverware industry
– Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Jewelry & Silverware industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Weaknesses of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd are -
No frontier risks strategy
– From the 10K / annual statement of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd, it seems that company is thinking out the frontier risks that can impact Jewelry & Silverware industry. But it has very little resources allocation to manage the risks emerging from events such as natural disasters, climate change, melting of permafrost, tacking the rise of artificial intelligence, opportunities and threats emerging from commercialization of space etc.
Products dominated business model
– Even though Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd has some of the most successful models in the Jewelry & Silverware industry, this business model has made each new product launch extremely critical for continuous financial growth of the organization. Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
Lack of clear differentiation of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd products
– To increase the profitability and margins on the products, Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd needs to provide more differentiated products than what it is currently offering in the marketplace.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd has high operating costs in the Jewelry & Silverware industry. This can be harder to sustain given the new emerging competition from nimble players who are using technology to attract Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd lucrative customers.
Low market penetration in new markets
– Outside its home market of India, Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd needs to spend more promotional, marketing, and advertising efforts to penetrate international markets.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative at Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd, in the dynamic environment of Jewelry & Silverware industry it has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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
– From the outside it seems that Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd needs to have more collaboration between its sales team and marketing team. Sales professionals in the Jewelry & Silverware industry have deep experience in developing customer relationships. Marketing department at Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd is planning to shift buying processes online.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication can help Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd to provide better information regarding Jewelry & Silverware products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
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 Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes, Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
Skills based hiring in Jewelry & Silverware industry
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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 Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Jewelry & Silverware industry, but Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd to focus more on services in the Jewelry & Silverware industry rather than just following the product oriented approach.
Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd Opportunities | External Strategic Factors
What are Opportunities in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The opportunities of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd are -
Changes in consumer behavior post Covid-19
– consumer behavior has changed in the Jewelry & Silverware industry because of Covid-19 restrictions. Some of this behavior will stay once things get back to normal. Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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. Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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.
Leveraging digital technologies
– Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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.
Finding new ways to collaborate
– Covid-19 has not only transformed business models of companies in Jewelry & Silverware industry, but it has also influenced the consumer preferences. Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
Reconfiguring business model
– The expansion of digital payment system, the bringing down of international transactions costs using Bitcoin and other blockchain based currencies, etc can help Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd to reconfigure its entire business model. For example it can used blockchain based technologies to reduce piracy of its products in the big markets such as China. Secondly it can use the popularity of e-commerce in various developing markets to build a Direct to Customer business model rather than the current Channel Heavy distribution network.
Building a culture of innovation
– managers at Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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 Jewelry & Silverware industry.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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 Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
Developing new processes and practices
– Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd can develop new processes and procedures in Jewelry & Silverware 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.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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.
Use of Bitcoin and other crypto currencies for transactions in Jewelry & Silverware industry
– The popularity of Bitcoin and other crypto currencies as asset class and medium of transaction has opened new opportunities for Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd in the Jewelry & Silverware industry. Now Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Jewelry & Silverware sector.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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 Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd to increase its market reach. Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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 Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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.
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 Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd in the Jewelry & Silverware sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Environmental challenges
– Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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. Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Jewelry & Silverware industry.
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 Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd.
High dependence on third party suppliers
– Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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.
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. Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd is facing in Jewelry & Silverware sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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 Jewelry & Silverware industry and other sectors.
Regulatory challenges
– Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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 Jewelry & Silverware industry regulations.
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd may face longer learning curve for training and development of existing employees. This can open space for more nimble competitors in the field of Jewelry & Silverware sector.
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 Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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 Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd in Jewelry & Silverware industry. The Jewelry & Silverware 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.
Easy access to finance
– Easy access to finance in Jewelry & Silverware industry will also reduce the barriers to entry in the industry, thus putting downward pressure on the prices because of increasing competition. Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd Template, Example
Not all factors mentioned under the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats quadrants in the SWOT Analysis are equal. Managers at Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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 Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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 Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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 Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd 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 Zodiac JRD MKJ Ltd needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.