One Stop Systems (OSS) SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / MBA Resources
Computer Storage Devices
Strategy / MBA Resources
Introduction to SWOT Analysis
SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix for One Stop Systems (United States)
Based on various researches at Oak Spring University , One Stop Systems is operating in a macro-environment that has been destablized by – digital marketing is dominated by two big players Facebook and Google, increasing inequality as vast percentage of new income is going to the top 1%, challanges to central banks by blockchain based private currencies, increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, wage bills are increasing, geopolitical disruptions, there is backlash against globalization,
competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, technology disruption, etc
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University, we believe that One Stop Systems can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the One Stop Systems, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which One Stop Systems 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 One Stop Systems can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning of One Stop Systems
2. Improving business portfolio management of One Stop Systems
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in United States
4. Making a Computer Storage Devices sector specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of One Stop Systems
Strengths of One Stop Systems | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of One Stop Systems are -
Highly skilled collaborators
– One Stop Systems has highly efficient outsourcing and offshoring strategy. It has resulted in greater operational flexibility and bringing down the costs in highly price sensitive Computer Storage Devices industry. Secondly the value chain collaborators of One Stop Systems have helped the firm to develop new products and bring them quickly to the marketplace.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of One Stop Systems in Computer Storage Devices industry is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of One Stop Systems in the Technology sector have low bargaining power. One Stop Systems has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps One Stop Systems to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Successful track record of launching new products
– One Stop Systems has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. One Stop Systems 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.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– One Stop Systems has innovation driven culture where significant part of the revenues are spent on the research and development activities. This has resulted in – One Stop Systems staying ahead in the Computer Storage Devices industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Ability to lead change in Computer Storage Devices
– One Stop Systems is one of the leading players in the Computer Storage Devices industry in United States. Over the years it has not only transformed the business landscape in the Computer Storage Devices industry in United States but also across the existing markets. The ability to lead change has enabled One Stop Systems in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Innovation driven organization
– One Stop Systems is one of the most innovative firm in Computer Storage Devices sector.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Computer Storage Devices industry
– One Stop Systems has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled One Stop Systems to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Computer Storage Devices industry. The sustainable margins have also helped One Stop Systems to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Strong track record of project management in the Computer Storage Devices industry
– One Stop Systems is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
Diverse revenue streams
– One Stop Systems is present in almost all the verticals within the Computer Storage Devices industry. This has provided One Stop Systems 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.
Learning organization
- One Stop Systems 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 One Stop Systems is open place that encourages instructiveness, ideation, open minded discussions, and creativity. Employees and leaders at One Stop Systems emphasize – knowledge, initiative, and innovation.
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy of One Stop Systems comprises – understanding the underlying the factors in the Computer Storage Devices 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.
Weaknesses of One Stop Systems | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of One Stop Systems are -
High dependence on One Stop Systems ‘s star products
– The top 2 products and services of One Stop Systems still accounts for major business revenue. This dependence on star products in Computer Storage Devices industry has resulted into insufficient focus on developing new products, even though One Stop Systems has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
Interest costs
– Compare to the competition, One Stop Systems has borrowed money from the capital market at higher rates. It needs to restructure the interest payment and costs so that it can compete better and improve profitability.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, One Stop Systems is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication can help One Stop Systems to provide better information regarding Computer Storage Devices products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
Ability to respond to the competition
– As the decision making is very deliberative at One Stop Systems, in the dynamic environment of Computer Storage Devices industry it has struggled to respond to the nimble upstart competition. One Stop Systems has reasonably good record with similar level competitors but it has struggled with new entrants taking away niches of its business.
No frontier risks strategy
– From the 10K / annual statement of One Stop Systems, it seems that company is thinking out the frontier risks that can impact Computer Storage Devices 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.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of One Stop Systems is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Computer Storage Devices industry, but One Stop Systems needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help One Stop Systems to focus more on services in the Computer Storage Devices industry rather than just following the product oriented approach.
Capital Spending Reduction
– Even during the low interest decade, One Stop Systems 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 Computer Storage Devices industry using digital technology.
Products dominated business model
– Even though One Stop Systems has some of the most successful models in the Computer Storage Devices industry, this business model has made each new product launch extremely critical for continuous financial growth of the organization. One Stop Systems should strive to include more intangible value offerings along with its core products and services.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, One Stop Systems has high operating costs in the Computer Storage Devices industry. This can be harder to sustain given the new emerging competition from nimble players who are using technology to attract One Stop Systems lucrative customers.
Slow decision making process
– As mentioned earlier in the report, One Stop Systems has a very deliberative decision making approach. This approach has resulted in prudent decisions, but it has also resulted in missing opportunities in the Computer Storage Devices industry over the last five years. One Stop Systems 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.
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the Computer Storage Devices industry, One Stop Systems 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.
One Stop Systems Opportunities | External Strategic Factors
What are Opportunities in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The opportunities of One Stop Systems are -
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 One Stop Systems 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.
Learning at scale
– Online learning technologies has now opened space for One Stop Systems 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.
Creating value in data economy
– The success of analytics program of One Stop Systems has opened avenues for new revenue streams for the organization in Computer Storage Devices industry. This can help One Stop Systems to build a more holistic ecosystem for One Stop Systems products in the Computer Storage Devices industry by providing – data insight services, data privacy related products, data based consulting services, etc.
Use of Bitcoin and other crypto currencies for transactions in Computer Storage Devices industry
– The popularity of Bitcoin and other crypto currencies as asset class and medium of transaction has opened new opportunities for One Stop Systems in the Computer Storage Devices industry. Now One Stop Systems can target international markets with far fewer capital restrictions requirements than the existing system.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects One Stop Systems 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, One Stop Systems 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.
Buying journey improvements
– One Stop Systems can improve the customer journey of consumers in the Computer Storage Devices industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. It 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.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for One Stop Systems in the field of marketing communication. It will bring down the cost of doing business, provide technology platform to build new products in the Computer Storage Devices industry, and it will provide faster access to the consumers.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, One Stop Systems 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 One Stop Systems to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Manufacturing automation
– One Stop Systems can use the latest technology developments to improve its manufacturing and designing process in Computer Storage Devices 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.
Leveraging digital technologies
– One Stop Systems 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.
Developing new processes and practices
– One Stop Systems can develop new processes and procedures in Computer Storage Devices 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.
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. One Stop Systems can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Threats One Stop Systems External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats of One Stop Systems are -
Easy access to finance
– Easy access to finance in Computer Storage Devices industry will also reduce the barriers to entry in the industry, thus putting downward pressure on the prices because of increasing competition. One Stop Systems can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry to Computer Storage Devices industry are lowering. It can presents One Stop Systems with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the Computer Storage Devices sector.
Technology acceleration in Forth Industrial Revolution
– One Stop Systems has witnessed rapid integration of technology during Covid-19 in the Computer Storage Devices industry. As one of the leading players in the industry, One Stop Systems needs to keep up with the evolution of technology in the Computer Storage Devices 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.
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for One Stop Systems in Computer Storage Devices industry. The Computer Storage Devices 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.
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 One Stop Systems.
High dependence on third party suppliers
– One Stop Systems 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. One Stop Systems 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 One Stop Systems is facing in Computer Storage Devices sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
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 One Stop Systems business can come under increasing regulations regarding data privacy, data security, etc.
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.
Stagnating economy with rate increase
– One Stop Systems 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 Computer Storage Devices industry.
Consumer confidence and its impact on One Stop Systems 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 Computer Storage Devices industry and other sectors.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, One Stop Systems 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 One Stop Systems prominent markets.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of One Stop Systems Template, Example
Not all factors mentioned under the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats quadrants in the SWOT Analysis are equal. Managers at One Stop Systems 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 One Stop Systems 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 One Stop Systems 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 One Stop Systems 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 One Stop Systems needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.