Case Study SWOT analysis – Hewden One of Hewden’s main aims is to maintain its market leading position. It achieves this
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 8:59 am
Case Study
SWOT analysis – HewdenOne of Hewden’s main aims is to maintain its market leadingposition. It achieves this by analysing factors affecting theinternal and external environment and using this data to plan howto improve efficiencies and processes. These plans are calledstrategies. A key methodused by Hewden to audit its internal and external environment is aSWOT analysis. This looks at the internal strengths and weaknessesof the business and its external opportunities andthreats. A key outcome of a SWOT analysis is to prepare thebusiness for the future.By identifying the business’ strengths, Hewden built on its corecompetencies to remain competitive. Hewden’s key strengths includeits:• strong brand and reputation• market leading training and development opportunities• flat organisational structure• dedicated workforce and high number of long-servingprofessionals• core fleet guarantee. This guarantee means that any core plantequipment ordered before midday is delivered to the customer thenext day. This is a unique selling proposition (USP) for Hewdenwhich creates a competitive advantage.To plan for the future Hewden sought ways to build on its keystrengths. Workforce planning is a key tactic to ensure a futurepipeline of skilled employees to uphold Hewden’s reputation in theindustry. One of the ways that this is achieved is through itsgraduate scheme.
Any business needs to know where its weaknesses are so that itcan improve and manage them. Weaknesses are negative factors thatdetract from the achievement of objectives. Hewden’s SWOT analysisidentified potential weaknesses that needed addressing. Firstly,its operating system needed updating. The previous system did notoffer the transparency and operating data required by each depot torun efficiently. Secondly, it needed a change in culture to acceptthe new system and processes as well as new graduate members of theworkforce.
Opportunities occur in the marketplace outside the business. Abusiness uses its strengths to take advantage of them. One suchopportunity that Hewden identified was the use of social media toimprove its communication channels, helping to raise the company’sprofile amongst key stakeholders. Hewden uses LinkedIn, a socialmedia site for business professionals. Other uses of new mediainclude a Hewden Smartphone app designed to make plant hireeasier.
Threats occur from external factors outside of the business.Like any business, the actions of competitors create a threat toHewden. Other threats include a range of economic factors. Therecent recession posed another threat that Hewden’s strategiesneeded to take into account.
Answer all questions using your own words. Any answer that has been copied from the article, or insufficiently changed, will receive agrade of zero.
• Do not answer in point form; answer inparagraphs.
• For full marks, elaborate your answers andprovide evidence when possible.
Question :
1. What does SWOT analysis mean?
SWOT analysis – HewdenOne of Hewden’s main aims is to maintain its market leadingposition. It achieves this by analysing factors affecting theinternal and external environment and using this data to plan howto improve efficiencies and processes. These plans are calledstrategies. A key methodused by Hewden to audit its internal and external environment is aSWOT analysis. This looks at the internal strengths and weaknessesof the business and its external opportunities andthreats. A key outcome of a SWOT analysis is to prepare thebusiness for the future.By identifying the business’ strengths, Hewden built on its corecompetencies to remain competitive. Hewden’s key strengths includeits:• strong brand and reputation• market leading training and development opportunities• flat organisational structure• dedicated workforce and high number of long-servingprofessionals• core fleet guarantee. This guarantee means that any core plantequipment ordered before midday is delivered to the customer thenext day. This is a unique selling proposition (USP) for Hewdenwhich creates a competitive advantage.To plan for the future Hewden sought ways to build on its keystrengths. Workforce planning is a key tactic to ensure a futurepipeline of skilled employees to uphold Hewden’s reputation in theindustry. One of the ways that this is achieved is through itsgraduate scheme.
Any business needs to know where its weaknesses are so that itcan improve and manage them. Weaknesses are negative factors thatdetract from the achievement of objectives. Hewden’s SWOT analysisidentified potential weaknesses that needed addressing. Firstly,its operating system needed updating. The previous system did notoffer the transparency and operating data required by each depot torun efficiently. Secondly, it needed a change in culture to acceptthe new system and processes as well as new graduate members of theworkforce.
Opportunities occur in the marketplace outside the business. Abusiness uses its strengths to take advantage of them. One suchopportunity that Hewden identified was the use of social media toimprove its communication channels, helping to raise the company’sprofile amongst key stakeholders. Hewden uses LinkedIn, a socialmedia site for business professionals. Other uses of new mediainclude a Hewden Smartphone app designed to make plant hireeasier.
Threats occur from external factors outside of the business.Like any business, the actions of competitors create a threat toHewden. Other threats include a range of economic factors. Therecent recession posed another threat that Hewden’s strategiesneeded to take into account.
Answer all questions using your own words. Any answer that has been copied from the article, or insufficiently changed, will receive agrade of zero.
• Do not answer in point form; answer inparagraphs.
• For full marks, elaborate your answers andprovide evidence when possible.
Question :
1. What does SWOT analysis mean?