https://research-methodology.net Necessary knowledge to conduct a business research Sun, 18 Feb 2024 02:24:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://rm-15da4.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-logoBRM-32x32.jpg https://research-methodology.net 32 32 https://research-methodology.net/byd-swot-analysis/ Sun, 18 Feb 2024 02:24:05 +0000 https://research-methodology.net/?p=77525 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. The following table  illustrates BYD SWOT analysis Strengths 1.      Vertical integration  and cost advantage 2.      Market leadership at the global scale 3.      Leadership in technological capabilities 4.      Massive manufacturing scale Weaknesses 1.      Brand image associated with the perception Chinese quality being low 2.      Overdependence on domestic market 3.      Too broad range of business 4.      Dependence on Chinese government EV subsidies Opportunities 1.      International market expansion 2.      Formation of strategic partnerships 3.      Increasing relevance and popularity of EV 4.      Technological advancements Threats 1.       Intensifying competition 2.      Trade conflicts between China and USA 3.      Issues in sourcing key components 4.      Global economic slowdown BYD SWOT Analysis Strengths in BYD SWOT Analysis   Vertical integration and cost advantage The bedrock of BYD’s cost leadership lies in its deep vertical integration. Unlike traditional automakers who rely on a constellation of external suppliers, BYD owns and operates its entire supply chain, from battery production to semiconductors, electric motors, and even key vehicle components. This single-source approach empowers BYD with several advantages. Firstly, it eliminates the markups and negotiation complexities associated with external suppliers, offering greater cost optimization. Secondly, it enables streamlined communication and collaboration across the entire production chain, allowing for quicker problem-solving and flexibility in adapting to market demands. Analysts estimate this vertical integration translates to a 25-30% cost advantage over competitors, a significant edge in the fiercely competitive EV market. But vertical integration goes beyond mere cost-cutting. It empowers BYD with unparalleled control over quality and consistency. By managing every stage of production, BYD can ensure strict adherence to its own exacting standards. This reduces the risk of defective components or production bottlenecks, further contributing to lower overall costs. The Blade Battery, a BYD innovation, exemplifies this. Its unique design…]]> https://research-methodology.net/marriott-swot-analysis/ Fri, 27 Oct 2023 03:11:36 +0000 https://research-methodology.net/?p=75961 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. The following illustrates Marriott SWOT analysis: Strengths 1.      Diverse portfolio of brands 2.      Global presence 3.      Strong loyalty program 4.      Asset-light business model Weaknesses 1.      Labour issues 2.      Brand image damaged due to data breach   Opportunities 1.      Targeting millennial and Gen Z segments 2.      Increasing focus on alternative lodging 3.      Focusing on emerging economies 4.      Entering into adjacent industries Threats 1.       Increased competition from alternative lodging 2.      Currency fluctuations 3.      Geopolitical tensions 4.      Global pandemic Marriott SWOT Analysis   Strengths in Marriott SWOT Analysis 1. Diverse portfolio of brands. Marriott International has 30 brands[1] in its portfolio appealing to the needs and wants of a wide range of customer segments. The company has something to offer every type of traveller, from budget-minded backpackers to luxury-seeking executives. This diversity gives the hotel chain substantial competitive advantage. Specifically, it allows the company to reach a wider range of customers. A traveller looking for a budget-friendly hotel is just as likely to book a room at a Fairfield Inn by Marriott as a traveller looking for a luxury hotel is to book a room at a Ritz-Carlton. 2. Global presence. Marriott is the largest hotel chain in the world and operates properties in 138 countries and territories[2]. Such a global presence gives the company a number of advantages. For example, global presence gives the company a competitive advantage over smaller hotel chains. Smaller hotel chains typically do not have the resources to expand into new markets and build new hotels. Marriott’s global presence allows the company to quickly and easily expand into new markets and compete with local hotel chains. Second, the hotel chain’s global presence allows it to leverage its brand recognition. Marriott is one of the most…]]> https://research-methodology.net/netflix-swot-analysis/ Mon, 18 Sep 2023 10:25:22 +0000 https://research-methodology.net/?p=75431 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for organizations of all types. The following table illustrates Netflix SWOT analysis: Strengths 1.      First mover advantage 2.      Corporate culture 3.      Original content 4.      Global presence Weaknesses 1.      Dependence of business model on other companies 2.      High level of indebtedness 3.      Over-dependence on North American home market 4.      Compromised customer service Opportunities 1.      Forming strategic partnerships 2.      Product line extension 3.      Benefiting from AI 4.      Increasing focus on locally adapted content Threats 1.      Failure of new co-CEOs 2.      Video piracy 3.      Loss of customers due to rising prices 4.      Global market saturation Netflix SWOT Analysis   Strengths in Netflix SWOT Analysis 1. Although Netflix did not invent on-demand video streaming, it has proved that this business model can be viable. Netflix was the first company to scale video streaming globally and the company name has become synonym for subsection based on-demand media with huge content library. First mover advantage is a considerable strength for Netflix because it increases brand recognition considerably and establishes the company’s serves as industry standards. 2. Netflix is famous for its non-orthodox corporate culture. The entertainment services provider encourages decision-making by employees at all levels and shares information openly, broadly and deliberately. Moreover, internal communications at the largest streaming service in the world are candid and direct and this also relates to employee performance feedback. Sophisticated corporate culture established by co-founder and former long-term CEO Reed Hastings has played an integral role in the success of the company and it is one of the formidable strengths associated with the business.     3. Netflix was among the first streaming platforms to produce its own content starting from 2011. Over the years the entertainment services provider was able to produce critically acclaimed shows worldwide such as House…]]> https://research-methodology.net/apple-swot-analysis/ Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:05:51 +0000 http://research-methodology.net/?p=6513 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. The following table illustrates Apple SWOT analysis: Strengths 1.      High quality, design and performance of Apple products and services 2.      Brand value of more than USD 3 trillion 3.      High profit margin 4.      Solid financial position of the business 5.      Sophisticated supply-chain infrastructure Weaknesses 1.      Lack of innovation 2.      Decreasing sales of iPhones 3.      Higher prices than competition 4.      Incompatibility of Apple products and services with other products and services for users 5.      Limited customazation options of products Opportunities 1.      Further increasing concentration on Services business segment 2.      Increasing focus in research and development 3.      Product diversification 4.      Formation of strategic partnerships 5.      Increasing focus on green technology Threats 1.      Quality problems with negative effects on sales and Apple brand image 2.      Intensifying competition from China and India 3.      Being found to have infringed on intellectual property rights 4.      Reputation damage due to the tax scandal 5.      Disruptive innovation by competitors Apple SWOT analysis   Strengths in Apple SWOT Analysis 1. High quality of Apple products and services in terms of design and performance is the main strength of the company. Co-founder and late CEO Steve Jobs never compromised design and functionality because of the cost of raw materials and manufacturing. The same principle persists to this day. The tech giant pursues differentiation business strategy and effectively differentiates its products and services with high quality, design and performance. Moreover, highly sophisticated Apple ecosystem plays an instrumental role in maintaining brand loyalty and consequently sustaining market share in the global scale. Specifically, third-party products are not usually compatible with Apple products and all products belonging to Apple portfolio work well with each-other. Thanks to services such as iCloud, airplay, and airdrop, you can start a task in on…]]> https://research-methodology.net/nvidia-swot-analysis/ Sun, 18 Jun 2023 04:51:02 +0000 https://research-methodology.net/?p=74379 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. The following table illustrates Nvidia SWOT analysis: Strengths 1.      Global leadership in GPU market 2.      Unique position to benefit from increasing popularity of AI 3.      More than 370 partnerships revolving around self-driving cars 4.      Advanced R&D capabilities Weaknesses 1.      Dependency of the majority of profits on graphics cards alone 2.      Dependence on 3rd parties due to fabless manufacturing 3.      High operational costs 4.      Limited product differentiation. Opportunities 1.      Benefiting from increasing popularity of AI 2.      Acquisitions of other technology companies 3.      Expansion into new industries 4.      Growth in the cloud computing market   Threats 1.       Intensifying competition 2.      Supply chain disruptions 3.      Regulatory changes 4.      Disruptive innovation Nvidia SWOT analysis   Strengths in Nvidia SWOT Analysis 1. Nvidia is the global leader in GPU market with market share of more than 70%. The company has benefited from the first mover advantage. Nvidia’s GeForce 256 is widely considered the world’s first GPU. Furthermore, at the moment Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 TI is considered as the best-performing GPU in the world.[1] The global market leadership is a considerable strength for the multinational technology company in terms of brand image and revenue potential. 2. Nvidia produces advanced chips required to train and run artificial intelligence (AI) networks and as such the company hugely benefiting from the increasing integration of AI into various aspects of personal and professional lives for millions of people. Other competitors such as AMD, Cisco and Juniper also set to benefit from AI, however, Nvidia in particular had made earlier bet and the company currently has become synonym with AI. Furthermore, on May 30, 2023 Nvidia market capitalization crossed USD 1 trillion threshold for the 1st time after its artificial intelligence prospects vaulted the chipmaker into an elite club…]]> https://research-methodology.net/wework-swot-analysis/ Mon, 20 Feb 2023 11:16:16 +0000 https://research-methodology.net/?p=72599 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. The following table illustrates WeWork SWOT analysis: Strengths 1.      Strong liquidity 2.      International presence 3.      Experience 4.      Brand recognition Weaknesses 1.      Business has not achieved profitability 2.      High level of indebtedness 3.      Damaged company image 4.      Business model easy to replicate Opportunities 1.      Entering into strategic collaborations 2.      Strengthening WeWork ecosystem 3.      Finding new sources of competitive advantage 4.       Increasing marketing efficiency Threats 1.      Inability of Sandeep Mathrani to turn around the business 2.       Members seeking payment concessions or deferrals or cancellations 3.      Emergence of new competitors with innovative business models 4.      Changes in customer attitudes towards shared workspace WeWork SWOT Analysis     Strengths in WeWork SWOT Analysis 1. WeWork has a strong liquidity. As of December 31, 2021, the company had access to USD2.0 billion of liquidity in the form of cash and commitments from its lenders. Strong liquidity offers a range of benefits for the workspace provider such as ability to meet short-term debts and dealing with unforeseen circumstances. 2. The global flexible workspace provider operates a network of 756 locations in 38 countries as of December 2021. Global presence offers a range of advantages for the workspace provider. These include economies of scale, access to local talent and opportunity to increase revenues. 3. WeWork had to deal with a range of serious issues such as ineffective management, severely flawed corporate culture and starting many initiatives at the same time. These setbacks damaged the brand image to a considerable extent. At the same time, it can be argued that the process of having to go through these problems have been a valuable experience for employees at all levels. Specifically, thanks to these issues WeWork employees at all levels are more mature now and they…]]> https://research-methodology.net/starbucks-swot-analysis/ Thu, 06 Oct 2022 00:02:07 +0000 http://research-methodology.net/?p=1490 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. The following table illustrates Starbucks SWOT analysis:   Strengths 1.      Extensive, but focused brand portfolio 2.      High profit margin and solid financial position 3.      Market leadership in the global scale 4.      Customer services and brand positioning 5.      Increasing presence in emerging economies Weaknesses 1.      Overly dependence on the US market 2.      Overly expensive prices 3.      Brand image weakened due to a number of incidents 4.      Extensive dependence of revenues on Arabica coffee beans price 5.      Imitable products and competitive advantage Opportunities 1.      Diversification of business 2.      Increased focus on organizational ethical behaviour 3.      Entering into strategic cooperation 4.      Reforming  the pricing structure 5.      Increasing focus on mobile ordering Threats 1.      Leadership failure by new CEO Laxman Narasimhan 2.      Dramatic increase of coffee beans costs 3.      Decline in consumption of coffee due to health concerns 4.      Emergence of direct and indirect competition 5.      Disruption in supply-chain Starbucks SWOT Analysis   Strengths in Starbucks SWOT Analysis 1. Starbucks Corporation maintains an extensive, yet highly focused brand portfolio. At the same time, all brands belonging to Starbucks portfolio including Teavana, Tazo, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Evolution Fresh, La Boulange and Ethos are popular drinks and beverages of premium class. The company also sells merchandise products such as coffee- and tea-brewing equipment, Verismo® System by Starbucks, mugs and accessories, packaged goods, books and gifts. Starbucks is able to apply its competitive advantage and extensive experience in the promotion and sales towards each product within its portfolio thanks to the shared features of these products associated with high quality for a premium price.     2. In fiscal year 2021 Starbucks generated consolidated revenues of USD 29,1 billion an increase of 24% compared to the previous year. The global coffeehouse chain enjoyed a…]]> https://research-methodology.net/ikea-swot-analysis/ Mon, 15 Aug 2022 00:13:56 +0000 http://research-methodology.net/?p=1556 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. SWOT analysis is a strategic tool that helps businesses to analyse internal and external factors affecting the bottom line. Strengths and weaknesses are internal factors that can be influenced by the company. Opportunities and threats, on the other hand, are external factors that have to be taken into account in strategic decision-making by the senior management.  The following table illustrates IKEA SWOT analysis: Strengths 1.      Market leadership in the global scale 2.      Democratic design concept 3.      Competency in cost-cutting through product and process innovation 4.      Brand value and solid financial position 5.      Vast, yet focused product range Weaknesses 1.      Weak presence in Asia 2.      Damaged reputation due to a series of incidents 3.      Competitive advantage difficult to sustain 4.      Lack of differentiation of IKEA products and services 5.      Lack of flexibility due to large size Opportunities 1.      Increasing emphasis on CSR 2.      Increasing presence in developing countries 3.      Adding premium range of products into portfolio 4.      Strengthening cost leadership competitive advantage through technological innovation 5.      Benefiting from increasing digitalization of various business processes Threats                                                        1.      Decline in demand due to increase in consumer income 2.      Unsustainability of ‘democratic design’ concept 3.      Emergence of competition from Asia 4.      Increasing costs of raw materials 5.      Global economic and financial crisis SWOT Analysis summary for IKEA   Strengths in IKEA SWOT Analysis 1. IKEA is an undisputed market leader in the global market of home improvement and furnishing. The Swedish furniture chain has 11 franchisees operating in more than 500 locations in 63 countries.[1] Additionally, the furniture retailer has 22 Pick-up and Order…]]> https://research-methodology.net/mcdonalds-swot-analysis/ Tue, 21 Jun 2022 00:17:20 +0000 http://research-methodology.net/?p=7338 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. The following table  illustrates McDonald’s SWOT analysis: Strengths 1.      Global market leadership 2.      Brand value and brand awareness 3.      Sustainable business model 4.      High level of profitability 5.      Effective utilization of digital technologies Weaknesses 1.      Unhealthy food on the menu 2.      Declining brand image 3.      High employee turnover 4.      Negative publicity 5.      Low differentiation Opportunities 1.      Enhancing focus on nutritional menu 2.      Product differentiation 3.      Improving CSR aspect of the business 4.      Reviving the brand image 5.      Increasing the extent of localization in international markets Threats 1.      Food safety concerns 2.      Fast food market saturation in developed countries 3.      Lawsuits against the company 4.      Currency fluctuations 5.      Competition from quality burger chains McDonald’s SWOT analysis   Strengths in McDonald’s SWOT Analysis 1. McDonald’s is an undisputed market leader with more than 40000 restaurants worldwide. The fast food giant has a global market share of about 43,8% and its closest competitor Yum Brands that comprises KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill has a market share of only 30,9% in the global fast food industry.[1] Market leadership is a considerable strength for McDonald’s in terms of generating cash flow and profits for medium and long-term perspectives. 2. McDonald’s is one of the most valuable brands in the world. According to Forbes McDonald’s is No. 10 most valuable brand in the world with the brand value of USD 46,1 billion[2]. Similarly, Interbrand considers McDonald’s No.9 most valuable brand in the world with the brand value USD 45,87 billion.[3] Brand value and brand awareness are proved sources of competitive advantage. Specifically, brand value is an indicator of a high level of consumer loyalty and it offers a wide range of advantages that include negotiating power with customers…]]> https://research-methodology.net/amazon-swot-analysis-2/ Wed, 23 Mar 2022 02:17:30 +0000 https://research-methodology.net/?p=7219 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. Amazon, as the e-commerce and cloud computing company worldwide needs to build upon its strengths at the same time reducing negative impact of its weaknesses on the bottom line. Moreover, it is important for the company to take advantage of opportunities and adopt a proactive approach in dealing with threats in the marketplace. The following table illustrates Amazon SWOT analysis:   Strengths 1.      Market leadership in the global scale 2.      Strong ecosystem of products and services 3.      Cost leadership due to efficient cost structure 4.      Customer-centricity 5.      Brand value Weaknesses 1.      Business model that can be imitated 2.      Seasonality of the business 3.      Weak competitive position of Amazon’s Fire Phone 4.      Damage to the brand image due to tax avoidance controversies in USA, UK and Japan 5.      Working conditions for warehouse workers Opportunities 1.      Diversification of e-commerce business segment 2.      Increasing focus on own brand products and services 3.      Increasing physical presence of the brand 4.      Developing more local sites in international markets 5.      Intensifying backward integration   Threats 1.      Patent infringement and other lawsuits against the company 2.      Weakening of industry entry barriers 3.      Threats to online security 4.      Andy Jassy failing to fill Jeff Bezos shoes effectively 5.      Backlash towards the brand Amazon SWOT analysis   Strengths in Amazon SWOT Analysis 1. Amazon is an undisputed market leader in online retail and cloud computing segments. The e-commerce giant generated USD 386 billion revenues and earned a net income of USD 21,3 billion in 2020 alone[1]. Dubbed as The Everything Store, Amazon sells hundreds of millions of products of its own and third-party sellers. Current market leadership position grants the tech giant upper hand in the competition in a number of ways such as economies of…]]> https://research-methodology.net/square-swot-analysis/ Mon, 27 Sep 2021 01:14:23 +0000 https://research-methodology.net/?p=57930 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. Strengths and weaknesses are considered as internal to the business and companies can change them. Opportunities and threats, on the other hand, are external in a way that companies cannot influence them. The following table illustrates Square SWOT analysis: Strengths 1.      Strong leadership by Jack Dorsey 2.      Strong brand value 3.      Effective ecosystems 4.      Impressive growth rate of the business Weaknesses 1.      Lack of global presence 2.      High employee turnover 3.      Dependence on payment cards networks 4.      4. High costs of operations Opportunities 1.      International market expansion 2.      Developing new products and services 3.      Diversification 4.      Support from governments Threats 1.       Jack Dorsey conflict of interest or burnout 2.      Increasing complexity of the business 3.      Cyberattacks 4.      4. Emergence of new competitors Square SWOT analysis Strengths in Square SWOT Analysis 1. Square co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey is a serial entrepreneur with proven leadership skills and business acumen. Dorsey successfully exercises purpose-driven leadership and his purpose at Square is making it easier for everyone to particulate in the economy. Moreover, Jack Dorsey is also a proven innovator and he is often compared to Steve Jobs, justifiably so. Dorsey’s effective leadership and innovative potential may play an instrumental role in expanding Square portfolio with more innovative products and services with positive implications on the long-term growth of the business. 2. Square market capitalization is more than USD 113 billion as of September 2021[1] As illustrated in figure below, Square stock value has increased more than 27 times from USD 9,00 since its IPO in October 2015 to its current USD 247,90. Specifically, market capitalization of the payments company soared during the past year once user conveniences associated with Square products and services became evident to a wider customer…]]> https://research-methodology.net/uber-swot-analysis-damaged-brand-image-considerable-weakness/ Mon, 19 Jul 2021 00:43:10 +0000 https://research-methodology.net/?p=13451 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. The following table illustrates Uber SWOT analysis: Strengths 1.      First mover advantage and global market leadership 2.      Low operational costs 3.      Effective implementation of ‘Think Global, Act Local’ strategy 4.      Uber ecosystem 5.      High levels of user convenience Weaknesses 1.      Damaged brand image due to a series of various scandals 2.      Increasing losses of the business 3.      Uber business model is easy to imitate 4.      Only technically savvy individuals can use Uber services 5.      Low earnings by Uber drivers Opportunities 1.      Increasing popularity of sharing economy 2.      Self-driving cars 3.      Improving brand image through CSR programs and initiatives 4.      Increasing internet penetration in the global scale 5.      Increasing service range Threats 1.      More legal actions in certain countries to ban Uber from operating 2.      Further intensification of competition 3.      The risk of new scandals and ethical issues 4.      Growing protests and retaliations from traditional taxi services 5.      Drivers leaving Uber due to low earnings Uber SWOT analysis   Strengths in Uber SWOT Analysis 1. Uber is the largest global taxi technology company in the world and it has a first mover advantage in the ride-hailing segment in the global scale. The company has effectively utilised its fist mover advantage to build momentum and achieve global expansion in a short period of time. Moreover, thanks to first-mover advantage, the word Uber has become synonym for ride-haling internationally and the new term uberisation has emerged describing commodisation of various services. Uber is an undisputed market leader in ride-haling the global scale. The largest mobility platform in the world has more than 93 million monthly active riders in approximately 10000 cities worldwide.  As illustrated in figure below, Uber is much more popular than its closest rival Lyft in the largest…]]> https://research-methodology.net/tesla-swot-analysis-2/ Mon, 26 Apr 2021 00:16:20 +0000 https://research-methodology.net/?p=25651 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. The following Table 1 illustrates Tesla SWOT analysis: Strengths 1.      First mover advantage 2.      Increasing numbers of vehicles sales 3.      Expertise in innovation 4.      Brand equity   Weaknesses 1.      Expensive price tags of Tesla vehicles 2.      Huge amount of debt (USD 11.69 billion) 3.      History of over-promising and under-delivering the quantity of vehicles 4.      Limited global presence   Opportunities 1.      Development of lower priced models 2.      Strengthening of Tesla ecosystem 3.      Shifts in consumer environmental attitudes 4.      More government incentives   Threats 1.      Manufacturing delays risks 2.      Crashes and fires in Tesla cars 3.      Threat of new competition 4.      Decrease in the price of oil   Table 1 Tesla SWOT analysis Strengths in Tesla SWOT Analysis 1. Tesla benefits from the first mover advantage in alternative fuel vehicles manufacturing to a considerable extent. The company was established in 2003 with the mission “to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy”, right after auto giant General Motors recalled and destroyed its EV1 electric cars.[1] Today, Tesla is an undisputed global market leader in electric vehicles segment. It can be argued that being the first global company exclusively focusing on electric vehicles, Tesla is in a good position to achieve a long-term growth. 2. The numbers of electric vehicles sold by Tesla has been increasing. As illustrated in Figure 1 below, the alternative fuel vehicles manufacturer delivered 180,000 vehicles in the last quarter of 2020. Increasing numbers of vehicles sales is strategically important for the company in a way that it allows benefiting from economies of scale and consequently, the alternative fuel vehicles manufacturer can become more profitable. Figure 1 The numbers of Tesla vehicles delivered worldwide[2] 3. Innovation is placed at the core of Tesla business strategy and…]]> https://research-methodology.net/w-w-grainger-swot-analysis/ Mon, 17 Aug 2020 01:46:37 +0000 https://research-methodology.net/?p=44095 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. The following table  illustrates W.W. Grainger SWOT analysis Strengths 1.      Experience, competence and knowledge in selling MRO products 2.      Economies of scale 3.      An extensive product range 4.      Increasing share of sales via e-commerce Weaknesses 1.      Substantial indebtness 2.      Overdependence on home market in the US 3.      Vulnerability to Amazon Business 4.      Ineffective marketing strategy Opportunities 1.      Increasing integration of Artificial Intelligence into various business processes 2.      Engaging in value added activities for customers 3.      Pursuing international market expansion strategy into developing countries 4.      Emergence of competitor vulnerabilities Threats 1.       Increasing strength of local distributors due to COVID-19 pandemic 2.      Further loss of market share to Amazon Business 3.      Inability to sustain competitive advantage 4.      Changes in currency exchange rates. W.W. Grainger SWOT Analysis   Strengths in W.W. Grainger SWOT Analysis 1. Established in 1925 by William W. Grainger – motor designer, salesman, and electrical engineer as a wholesale electrical sales company, by now the B2B distributor has an extensive experience of more than 90 years in industrial distribution. In-depth technical knowledge due to experience and know-how serves as a competitive advantage for the business and it plays an instrumental role in further expansion of product categories. 2. Grainger derives massive benefits from the economies of scale. The industrial products distributor sells about 1,7 million types of products supplied by about 5000 suppliers worldwide to more than 3,5 million customers internationally.[1] Immense scale of business operations allows Grainger to source products in bulk, negotiating low purchasing prices. Moreover, economies of scale benefit the business in terms of inbound logistics, warehousing and outbound logistics of products to end-users. 3. Arguably, Grainger covers the greatest range of MRO products among distributors worldwide. Unlike B2C business, in B2B distribution inclusion…]]> https://research-methodology.net/airbnb-swot-analysis/ Sat, 14 Sep 2019 04:49:56 +0000 https://research-methodology.net/?p=39324 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. The following table illustrates Airbnb SWOT analysis: Strengths 1.      First mover advantages 2.      Cost attractiveness for customers 3.      Impressive growth rate 4.      Airbnb adventures Weaknesses 1.      Inability to control service quality 2.      Vulnerability of brand image 3.      Replicable business model 4.      Absence of reception, housekeeping and room service Opportunities 1.      Brand extension 2.      Further international market expansion 3.      Further technological integration 4.      Formation of new strategic alliances Threats 1.      More legal issues 2.      Scandals 3.      Emergence of new competition 4.      Loss of key members of workforce  Airbnb SWOT analysis Strengths in Airbnb SWOT Analysis 1. Airbnb has a first mover advantage in peer-to-peer lodging industry. First mover advantage has played an instrumental role for Airbnb in terms of establishing strong brand recognition and achieving private brand valuation at USD 35 billion.[1] Thanks to first mover advantage coupled by effective leadership by founders Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia and Nathan Blecharczyk, the word Airbnb has become synonym for peer-to-peer lodging practices. Moreover, it can be argued that first mover advantage immensely contributes to Airbnb brand loyalty by rapidly expanding its customer base. 2. Airbnb is more cost attractive compared to traditional hotels and this is one of the major strengths points of its customer value proposition. As it has been illustrated in figure below, as of January 2018 average room prices per night are considerably lower at Airbnb compared to average room prices of hotels and this difference is the biggest in New York at USD 119. Operating rooms via Airbnb does not require 24 hours check-in desk, concierge, administration office and management apparatus like hotels, therefore at Airbnb a part of the cost advantage is passed to consumers.  Average room prices in selected major cities in January 2018[2]…]]> https://research-methodology.net/microsoft-swot-analysis-2-2/ Sat, 02 Feb 2019 00:47:41 +0000 http://research-methodology.net/?p=6564 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. The following table illustrates Microsoft SWOT analysis: Strengths 1.      Global leadership in cloud sector 2.      Effective leadership by Satya Nadella 3.      High profitability of the business and solid financial position 4.      The most valuable company in the world 5.      Diversified product portfolio Weaknesses 1.    Lack of innovation 2.    Weak position of Microsoft Edge browser application 3.    Occasional technical issues with Windows updates 4.    Dependence on hardware manufacturers 5.    Security issues of Microsoft products Opportunities 1.      Engagement in mergers and acquisitions 2.      Developing innovative products and services 3.      Focusing on smartphone segment 4.      Developing mobile advertising 5.      Enhancing security against cybercrime Threats 1.     Exchange rate risks 2.    Emergence of new competitors 3.    Anti-monopoly and other lawsuits 4.    Economic crisis 5.    Emergence of CSR-related scandals Microsoft SWOT analysis Strengths in Microsoft SWOT Analysis 1. Microsoft is an undisputed leader in global marketplace in cloud segment. The technology giant offers a wide range of cloud-based computing services that include Bing, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, Microsoft Office 365, OneDrive, Skype, Xbox Live, and Yammer. In 2018, Microsoft had global datacenter footprint to 54 regions – more than any other cloud provider. In the same year, the revenues of Azure hyperscale cloud grew 91 percent year-over-year. Moreover, Microsoft added nearly 500 new Azure capabilities in 2017 alone.[1] 2. Effective and visionary leadership by Satya Nadella is one of the factors that set apart Microsoft from competition in positive terms. Since taking over from Steve Ballmer as Microsoft CEO in 2014, Nadella has been bold and effective in restructuring and reinvention of the company. Initiatives such as refocusingMicrosoft’s mobile-based efforts and expanding many of its services to be offered on other platforms like Mac introduced by Nadella has proved to be…]]> https://research-methodology.net/xiaomi-swot-analysis-strength-based-on-cost-advantage/ Sat, 26 May 2018 00:28:55 +0000 https://research-methodology.net/?p=22661 In business context, SWOT acronym stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats associated with the company. The following table illustrates Xiaomi SWOT analysis Strengths 1.      Efficient leadership by Lei Jun 2.      Impressive growth rate 3.      Cost advantage 4.      Brand value estimated at USD 100 billion[1] Weaknesses 1.      Low profit margin 2.      Lower smartphone capabilities and functionalities compared to major competitors such as Apple and Samsung 3.      Competitive advantage difficult to sustain 4.      Lack of experience in the global marketplace Opportunities 1.      Increasing presence in cloud segment 2.      Formation of strategic collaborations 3.      Focusing on marketing strategy 4.      Achieving a disruptive innovation in the industry as a result of research and development Threats 1.       Market saturation in smartphone industry 2.       Increase in the costs of resources 3.      Issues with product functionality 4.      Emergence of CSR-related scandals Xiaomi SWOT analysis Strengths in Xiaomi SWOT Analysis `1. Xiaomi co-founder and CEO Lei Jun is an effective business leader named “Businessman of the Year” 2014 by Forbes Asia. Dubbed the ‘new Steve Jobs’, Lei Jun is perceived as the face of China Inc, along with Alibaba Founder Jack Ma.[2] Moreover, it is said that Lei has never yelled at his staff. When he encounters a problem, he just smiles and gets down to business, and tries to find a solution. In social gatherings, Lei is always a good listener.[3] Efficient and visionary leadership style is one of the major factors behind the phenomenal growth of the internet technology company. 2. The electronics and software company has enjoyed an impressive growth rate since its foundation in 2011. In Q4 2017, Xiaomi became the world’s No.4 in terms of quantity of shipments. Despite the decline of 6,3% in the global smartphone market, Xiaomi managed to maintain a year-on-year growth of 96.9%, the only brand demonstrating continuous…]]> https://research-methodology.net/samsung-swot-analysis/ Tue, 03 Oct 2017 04:00:40 +0000 http://research-methodology.net/?p=6901 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. The following table illustrates Samsung SWOT analysis: Strengths 1.      Leadership in visual display market segment 2.      Strong patent portfolio 3.      High brand value 4.      Global leadership across all mobile and smartphone markets 5.      Solid financial position of the company Weaknesses 1.      Absence of own OS and software 2.      Damage to brand image due to product safety issues 3.      Low profit margin 4.      Extensive product portfolio 5.      Competitive advantage hard to sustain Opportunities 1.      Further increasing investment in R&D 2.      Focusing on mobile advertisements 3.      Entering cloud business segment 4.      Increasing presence in emerging markets 5.      Entering into strategic collaboration with affiliated businesses Threats 1.      Changes in currency exchange rate 2.      Intensification of competition due to the slowing growth in the industry 3.      Disruption in the pipeline of new products 4.      Patent infringement lawsuits 5.      Disruptive innovation by competitors Samsung SWOT analysis   Strengths 1. Samsung has maintained the largest market share in the global market of visual display since 2006. Samsung Display Solutions has advanced the field of digital signage by introducing leading-edge new hardware, including new video walls featuring the world’s narrowest bezel and the world’s first TIZEN-powered premium signage.[1] Samsung had a global TV market share of 27.6% in 2015. The global market share for UHD TV market share amounted to 34.1% for the same year.[2] Moreover, in 2015 Samsung Electronics had mobile phone market share of 21.1%, smartphone market share of 22.2% and tablet market share of 15.0%.[3] 2. Strong patent portfolio is one of the solid bases of Samsung competitive advantage. In 2015 alone, the multinational electronics company registered 5072 global patents in the US Patent and Trade Office. Samsung is the 2nd largest patent holder in the US since 2006.[4] The multinational…]]> https://research-methodology.net/google-swot-analysis/ Sat, 17 Jun 2017 00:01:59 +0000 http://research-methodology.net/?p=6643 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to organizations. The following table illustrates Alphabet (Google) SWOT analysis: Strengths1.      Market leadership in search engine segment 2.      First mover advantage for many products and services 3.      Organizational culture and spirit of creativity 4.      Ecosystem of products and services 5.      Strong position in online advertising segment   Weaknesses 1.      Reliance on advertising as primary source of revenues despite diversification 2.      Many products and services in Alphabet portfolio are not profitable 3.      High employee turnover rate at executive level 4.      Sharing user information 5.      Weak presence in social networking segment   Opportunities 1.      Increasing presence in consumer electronics industry 2.      Acquisitions of related businesses 3.      Increasing focus on cloud computing 4.      Further developing Google+ 5.      Benefiting from shift from desktop to mobile computing   Threats 1.       Failure of costly projects to generate profit 2.      Competition from Facebook on search segment 3.      Emergence of new competitors 4.      Challenges of maintaining the current growth rate 5.      Potential lawsuits Alphabet (Google) SWOT analysis Strengths 1. Initially introduced only as a search engine, Google has effectively dominated this segment due to the speed and efficiency of operations according to the mission of the company “to organize world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful”[1]. As it is illustrated in figurebelow, Google has the market share of more than 79% in desktop search engine, whereas its closest competitor Microsoft’s Bing has the less than one fifth of Google’s market share. Google’s current leadership in search engine attracts massive revenues via advertising and this position has also positive implications on the sales of its own products and services. Global market share distribution in desktop search segment as of April 2017[2] 2. Alphabet employs more than 27,100 people in research and development (R&D). The company invested USD…]]> https://research-methodology.net/facebook-swot-analysis-market-leadership-as-a-major-strength/ Fri, 06 Jan 2017 00:19:34 +0000 http://research-methodology.net/?p=9235 SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to business organizations. The following table illustrates Facebook SWOT analysis Strengths 1.      Market leadership in the global scale 2.      Effective leadership by Mark Zuckerberg 3.      Efficient capitalization on mobile advertising 4.      Evolving role as a news source Weaknesses 1.      Dependence of revenues only on advertising 2.      Challenges to sustain the revenue growth rate 3.      Dependence of the business on a few key personnel 4.      Difficulty to sustain competitive advantage Opportunities 1.      Diversification of revenue sources 2.      Investments in data protection and user privacy protection 3.      Entering Chinese market via negotiations with the government 4.      Formation of strategic alliances   Threats 1.      Cyber attacks, phishing and threats to online security 2.      Facebook may not be able to successfully integrate new business it acquires 3.      Increasing popularity and sophistication of ad-block extensions 4.      The threat of being banned in developing countries  Facebook SWOT analysis Strengths 1. Facebook is an undisputed market leader in the global scale in online social networking segment. Facebook has more than 1.13 billion daily active users and 1.03 billion mobile daily active users and about 84.5 per cent of daily active users are outside the US and Canada.[1] As it is illustrated in Figure 2 below, the numbers of active users of the social networking sites has been consistently increasing during the past three years to reach more than 1.59 billion by the end of 2015. The current market leadership of the company is a considerable strength from multiple points of view. Facebook monthly active users (in millions)[2] 2. Despite his much younger age compared to many other CEOs, Mark Zuckerberg is a proven and effective business leader who exercises visionary leadership style in an efficient manner. Mr. Zuckerberg has been able to exercises exceptional decisiveness and beat…]]>