MedaPhor Group PLC (MEDM) SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / MBA Resources
Schools
Strategy / MBA Resources
Introduction to SWOT Analysis
SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix for MedaPhor Group PLC (United Kingdom)
Based on various researches at Oak Spring University , MedaPhor Group PLC is operating in a macro-environment that has been destablized by – increasing commodity prices, central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, customer relationship management is fast transforming because of increasing concerns over data privacy, increasing energy prices, supply chains are disrupted by pandemic , geopolitical disruptions, competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion,
increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, banking and financial system is disrupted by Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of MedaPhor Group PLC
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University, we believe that MedaPhor Group PLC can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the MedaPhor Group PLC, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which MedaPhor Group PLC 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 MedaPhor Group PLC can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning of MedaPhor Group PLC
2. Improving business portfolio management of MedaPhor Group PLC
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in United Kingdom
4. Making a Schools sector specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of MedaPhor Group PLC
Strengths of MedaPhor Group PLC | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of MedaPhor Group PLC are -
Diverse revenue streams
– MedaPhor Group PLC is present in almost all the verticals within the Schools industry. This has provided MedaPhor Group PLC 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.
Organizational Resilience of MedaPhor Group PLC
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing MedaPhor Group PLC does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Ability to recruit top talent
– MedaPhor Group PLC is one of the leading players in the Schools industry in United Kingdom. It is in a position to attract the best talent available in United Kingdom. The firm has a robust talent identification program that helps in identifying the brightest.
High switching costs
– The high switching costs that MedaPhor Group PLC 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.
Ability to lead change in Schools
– MedaPhor Group PLC is one of the leading players in the Schools industry in United Kingdom. Over the years it has not only transformed the business landscape in the Schools industry in United Kingdom but also across the existing markets. The ability to lead change has enabled MedaPhor Group PLC in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Training and development
– MedaPhor Group PLC has one of the best training and development program in Services 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.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of MedaPhor Group PLC in Schools industry is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of MedaPhor Group PLC in the Services sector have low bargaining power. MedaPhor Group PLC has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps MedaPhor Group PLC to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
High brand equity
– MedaPhor Group PLC has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled MedaPhor Group PLC to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Successful track record of launching new products
– MedaPhor Group PLC has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. MedaPhor Group PLC 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 Schools industry
– MedaPhor Group PLC has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled MedaPhor Group PLC to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Schools industry. The sustainable margins have also helped MedaPhor Group PLC to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Strong track record of project management in the Schools industry
– MedaPhor Group PLC is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
Weaknesses of MedaPhor Group PLC | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of MedaPhor Group PLC are -
Employees’ less understanding of MedaPhor Group PLC strategy
– From the outside it seems that the employees of MedaPhor Group PLC 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 MedaPhor Group PLC has some of the most successful models in the Schools industry, this business model has made each new product launch extremely critical for continuous financial growth of the organization. MedaPhor Group PLC should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
High dependence on MedaPhor Group PLC ‘s star products
– The top 2 products and services of MedaPhor Group PLC still accounts for major business revenue. This dependence on star products in Schools industry has resulted into insufficient focus on developing new products, even though MedaPhor Group PLC has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, MedaPhor Group PLC has high operating costs in the Schools industry. This can be harder to sustain given the new emerging competition from nimble players who are using technology to attract MedaPhor Group PLC lucrative customers.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, MedaPhor Group PLC is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication can help MedaPhor Group PLC to provide better information regarding Schools products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
Skills based hiring in Schools industry
– The stress on hiring functional specialists at MedaPhor Group PLC 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.
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the Schools industry, MedaPhor Group PLC 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 decision making process
– As mentioned earlier in the report, MedaPhor Group PLC has a very deliberative decision making approach. This approach has resulted in prudent decisions, but it has also resulted in missing opportunities in the Schools industry over the last five years. MedaPhor Group PLC 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.
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 MedaPhor Group PLC supply chain. Even after few cautionary changes, MedaPhor Group PLC is still heavily dependent upon the existing supply chain. The existing supply chain though brings in cost efficiencies but it has left MedaPhor Group PLC vulnerable to further global disruptions in South East Asia.
High bargaining power of channel partners in Schools industry
– because of the regulatory requirements in United Kingdom, MedaPhor Group PLC 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 Schools industry.
Aligning sales with marketing
– From the outside it seems that MedaPhor Group PLC needs to have more collaboration between its sales team and marketing team. Sales professionals in the Schools industry have deep experience in developing customer relationships. Marketing department at MedaPhor Group PLC can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as MedaPhor Group PLC is planning to shift buying processes online.
MedaPhor Group PLC Opportunities | External Strategic Factors
What are Opportunities in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The opportunities of MedaPhor Group PLC are -
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, MedaPhor Group PLC 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 MedaPhor Group PLC to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– MedaPhor Group PLC has spent a significant amount of money and effort to integrate analytics and machine learning into its operations in Schools sector. This continuous investment in analytics has enabled MedaPhor Group PLC to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help MedaPhor Group PLC to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
Manufacturing automation
– MedaPhor Group PLC can use the latest technology developments to improve its manufacturing and designing process in Schools sector. 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.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for MedaPhor Group PLC in the field of marketing communication. It will bring down the cost of doing business, provide technology platform to build new products in the Schools industry, and it will provide faster access to the consumers.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for MedaPhor Group PLC 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 MedaPhor Group PLC to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
Changes in consumer behavior post Covid-19
– consumer behavior has changed in the Schools industry because of Covid-19 restrictions. Some of this behavior will stay once things get back to normal. MedaPhor Group PLC 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. MedaPhor Group PLC 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.
Use of Bitcoin and other crypto currencies for transactions in Schools industry
– The popularity of Bitcoin and other crypto currencies as asset class and medium of transaction has opened new opportunities for MedaPhor Group PLC in the Schools industry. Now MedaPhor Group PLC can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Leveraging digital technologies
– MedaPhor Group PLC 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 MedaPhor Group PLC has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in Schools industry. This can help MedaPhor Group PLC to build a more holistic ecosystem for MedaPhor Group PLC products in the Schools industry by providing – data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for MedaPhor Group PLC 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.
Better consumer reach
– The expansion of the 5G network will help MedaPhor Group PLC to increase its market reach. MedaPhor Group PLC 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.
Loyalty marketing
– MedaPhor Group PLC 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.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, MedaPhor Group PLC is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. MedaPhor Group PLC can utilize new technology in the field of Schools industry to build more coordinated teams and streamline operations and communications using tools such as CAD, Zoom, etc.
Threats MedaPhor Group PLC External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats of MedaPhor Group PLC are -
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– MedaPhor Group PLC 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 Schools industry.
Easy access to finance
– Easy access to finance in Schools industry will also reduce the barriers to entry in the industry, thus putting downward pressure on the prices because of increasing competition. MedaPhor Group PLC 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 MedaPhor Group PLC in the Schools sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Increasing wage structure of MedaPhor Group PLC
– 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 MedaPhor Group PLC.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry to Schools industry are lowering. It can presents MedaPhor Group PLC with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the Schools sector.
Environmental challenges
– MedaPhor Group PLC 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. MedaPhor Group PLC can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Schools industry.
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– MedaPhor Group PLC has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Schools industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, MedaPhor Group PLC needs to keep up with the evolution of technology in the Schools sector. According to Mckinsey study top managers believe that the adoption of technology in operations, communications is 20-25 times faster than what they planned in the beginning of 2019.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, MedaPhor Group PLC 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 MedaPhor Group PLC prominent markets.
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, MedaPhor Group PLC may face longer learning curve for training and development of existing employees. This can open space for more nimble competitors in the field of Schools sector.
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. MedaPhor Group PLC 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 MedaPhor Group PLC is facing in Schools sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Consumer confidence and its impact on MedaPhor Group PLC 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 Schools industry and other sectors.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of MedaPhor Group PLC Template, Example
Not all factors mentioned under the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats quadrants in the SWOT Analysis are equal. Managers at MedaPhor Group PLC 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 MedaPhor Group PLC 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 MedaPhor Group PLC 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 MedaPhor Group PLC 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 MedaPhor Group PLC needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.