QSO 489 3-1 Discussion: Share Your Initial Findings

Step-By-Step Guide QSO 489 3-1 Discussion: Share Your Initial Findings

Recap

Previously, for QSO 489 2-2 Milestone One, we discussed the key factors needed for the Final Project. We analyzed the key information required for the SWOT analysis of our chosen company.

Introduction to QSO 489 3-1 Discussion 

This How-To Guide is designed to help you navigate through a collaborative discussion as part of your capstone project in Operations Management. The aim is to share initial findings about your chosen company, focusing on SWOT analysis, identifying key challenges, and considering potential solutions. The QSO 489 3-1 Discussion: Share Your Initial Findings also involves constructively critiquing the analyses of your peers, fostering a collaborative learning environment.

Provide a short overview of your company and selected challenges, and include information your peers need to assess your findings.

Overview of Your Company

Foremost, we will briefly provide an overview of the company we chose for the QSO 489 course. Note: I chose Tesla, Inc.

• Action: Provide a concise overview of your company, including its industry, size, and market position.
• Objective: Equip peers with a fundamental understanding necessary to evaluate your analysis.

Example

Tesla, Inc., an American electric vehicle (EV) and clean energy company, is renowned for its innovative approach in the automotive industry. In 2003, Tesla significantly disrupted traditional car manufacturing by emphasizing sustainability, renewable energy solutions, and cutting-edge technology. The company not only produces electric cars but also battery energy storage from home to grid-scale and solar products. Tesla’s mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy has positioned it as a technology and environmental advocacy leader within the auto industry.

List and briefly describe the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that are the focus of your analysis. Why are they the most important?

Identifying and Analyzing SWOT

Next, we will discuss the SWOT of our company. We will also discuss why each section of SWOT  is important for the company.

• Listing Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
• List the identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
• Lay out the foundational elements of your SWOT analysis.

Example

Identifying and Analyzing SWOT Strengths: Tesla’s major strengths are its brand recognition, innovative culture, and proprietary technology. Its direct sales model bypasses traditional dealership networks, offering a unique customer experience (Bredenfeld et al., 2020). Weaknesses: High manufacturing costs, production delays, and reliance on Elon Musk’s persona can be seen as weaknesses, impacting operational stability and investor confidence. Opportunities: Expansion into new markets, advancements in battery technology, and potential government incentives for clean energy vehicles present significant opportunities (Boesch, 2023). Threats: The main threats are intense competition from existing car manufacturers, new EV startups, and regulatory challenges across different countries.

Which strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats did you choose not to consider, and why? 

Importance and Selection Criteria

For this section of QSO 489 3-1 Discussion: Share Your Initial Findings, we will explore the importance of our selected SWOT.

• Explain why these elements were chosen as most critical and excluded others.
• Justify your choices, showing strategic focus and insight.

Example

Importance and Selection Criteria The chosen strengths and weaknesses highlight Tesla’s internal capabilities and challenges, which are crucial for its strategic direction. The opportunities and threats focus on external factors that could significantly impact Tesla’s growth and market position. Other factors, like minor legal disputes, were not considered due to their limited impact on the company’s core operations.

What problems are you seeing, and what solutions are you considering for implementation?

Problem Identification and Solution Consideration

Next, we will discuss the problems we have noticed in the SWOT and how they can be solved.

• Discuss any significant problems identified during your analysis and potential solutions you are considering.
• Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills by linking analysis to actionable strategies.

Example

Problem Identification and Solution  One of the primary problems Tesla faces is production scalability amid high demand. Delays in production timelines can dampen customer satisfaction and impact financial performance (Kristensen & Kristensen, 2022). Considering solutions, Tesla could invest more in automation and refine its supply chain logistics to enhance production efficiency. Expanding manufacturing facilities globally would help meet demand more effectively and reduce delivery times.

Constructively critique your peers’ analyses. Provide your peers with advice and resources to help them better solve their identified problems.

Peer Responses

Responding to peers is one of the vital parts of the QSO 489 discussion posts. We need to provide at least two peer responses. I will provide one example post. You can write your peer responses by keeping the below points in mind.

• Provide thoughtful, constructive feedback on the analyses presented by your peers.
• Engage in scholarly dialogue that enhances understanding and improves collective outcomes.

Example

Response 01 Hey Sam, nice post! You have done a commendable job detailing Tesla’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. I suggest exploring how Tesla could leverage technological advancements to mitigate production delays. Additionally, it might be beneficial to collaborate with technology companies to enhance automation and supply chain processes, thereby improving scalability. This could be a strategic move to address the production challenges more efficiently. Response 02 We need to provide at least two peer responses. I have provided one example post. You can write your peer responses by keeping the sample response in mind.

Closing

This collaborative discussion is vital to your capstone, allowing you to deepen your understanding of SWOT analysis and its practical applications in Operations Management. By sharing insights, critiquing peers, and considering solutions to identified problems, you enhance your strategic thinking skills and contribute to a richer learning experience for all participants.

Precap

The upcoming QSO 489 3-2 Milestone One revolves around creating the draft of the SWOT analysis of our chosen company. We will focus on different segments of SWOT and analyze our findings in the draft of the Final Project.

References

Boesch, J. (2023). A Strategic Audit of Tesla Inc. Honors Theses. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/honorstheses/612 Bredenfeld, L., Cherubim, M., Kellermann, A. C., Lehmann, C., Malberg, S., Rafn, J., Kwon, Y., & Choi, S. (2020). Tesla Moving Forward. 신산업경영저널, 38(1), 47–70.

Kristensen, L., & Kristensen, E. (2022). Price Vs. Value, Tesla-a Trillion-Dollar Company.