Proximity Designs

Proximity Designs Description

The case follows Jim and Debbie Aung-Din Taylor, an American couple with backgrounds in international development, as they found and build Proximity Designs, a social enterprise in Myanmar. Initially, the Taylors are focused on redesigning the treadle pump for Myanmarese farmers, using design thinking and processes to formulate a pump that is affordable to their extremely impoverished target customers. However, the Taylors soon realize that they also need to build a distribution network in order to sell their products. Along the way, a natural disaster (Cyclone Nargis) and political reforms in the country create both new challenges and new opportunities for Proximity.

Case Description Proximity Designs

Strategic Managment Tools Used in Case Study Analysis of Proximity Designs

STEP 1. Problem Identification in Proximity Designs case study

STEP 2. External Environment Analysis - PESTEL / PEST / STEP Analysis of Proximity Designs case study

STEP 3. Industry Specific / Porter Five Forces Analysis of Proximity Designs case study

STEP 4. Evaluating Alternatives / SWOT Analysis of Proximity Designs case study

STEP 5. Porter Value Chain Analysis / VRIO / VRIN Analysis Proximity Designs case study

STEP 6. Recommendations Proximity Designs case study

STEP 7. Basis of Recommendations for Proximity Designs case study

Case Analysis of Proximity Designs

Proximity Designs is a Harvard Business (HBR) Case Study on Innovation & Entrepreneurship , Texas Business School provides HBR case study assignment help for just $9. Texas Business School(TBS) case study solution is based on HBR Case Study Method framework, TBS expertise & global insights. Proximity Designs is designed and drafted in a manner to allow the HBR case study reader to analyze a real-world problem by putting reader into the position of the decision maker. Proximity Designs case study will help professionals, MBA, EMBA, and leaders to develop a broad and clear understanding of casecategory challenges. Proximity Designs will also provide insight into areas such as – wordlist , strategy, leadership, sales and marketing, and negotiations.

Case Study Solutions Background Work

Proximity Designs case study solution is focused on solving the strategic and operational challenges the protagonist of the case is facing. The challenges involve – evaluation of strategic options, key role of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, leadership qualities of the protagonist, and dynamics of the external environment. The challenge in front of the protagonist, of Proximity Designs, is to not only build a competitive position of the organization but also to sustain it over a period of time.

Strategic Management Tools Used in Case Study Solution

The Proximity Designs case study solution requires the MBA, EMBA, executive, professional to have a deep understanding of various strategic management tools such as SWOT Analysis, PESTEL Analysis / PEST Analysis / STEP Analysis, Porter Five Forces Analysis, Go To Market Strategy, BCG Matrix Analysis, Porter Value Chain Analysis, Ansoff Matrix Analysis, VRIO / VRIN and Marketing Mix Analysis.

Texas Business School Approach to Innovation & Entrepreneurship Solutions

In the Texas Business School, Proximity Designs case study solution – following strategic tools are used - SWOT Analysis, PESTEL Analysis / PEST Analysis / STEP Analysis, Porter Five Forces Analysis, Go To Market Strategy, BCG Matrix Analysis, Porter Value Chain Analysis, Ansoff Matrix Analysis, VRIO / VRIN and Marketing Mix Analysis.

We have additionally used the concept of supply chain management and leadership framework to build a comprehensive case study solution for the case – Proximity Designs

Step 1 – Problem Identification of Proximity Designs - Harvard Business School Case Study

The first step to solve HBR Proximity Designs case study solution is to identify the problem present in the case. The problem statement of the case is provided in the beginning of the case where the protagonist is contemplating various options in the face of numerous challenges that Proximity Taylors is facing right now. Even though the problem statement is essentially – “Innovation & Entrepreneurship” challenge but it has impacted by others factors such as communication in the organization, uncertainty in the external environment, leadership in Proximity Taylors, style of leadership and organization structure, marketing and sales, organizational behavior, strategy, internal politics, stakeholders priorities and more.

Step 2 – External Environment Analysis

Texas Business School approach of case study analysis – Conclusion, Reasons, Evidences - provides a framework to analyze every HBR case study. It requires conducting robust external environmental analysis to decipher evidences for the reasons presented in the Proximity Designs.

The external environment analysis of Proximity Designs will ensure that we are keeping a tab on the macro-environment factors that are directly and indirectly impacting the business of the firm.

What is PESTEL Analysis? Briefly Explained

PESTEL stands for political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors that impact the external environment of firm in Proximity Designs case study. PESTEL analysis of " Proximity Designs" can help us understand why the organization is performing badly, what are the factors in the external environment that are impacting the performance of the organization, and how the organization can either manage or mitigate the impact of these external factors.

How to do PESTEL / PEST / STEP Analysis? What are the components of PESTEL Analysis?

As mentioned above PESTEL Analysis has six elements – political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal. All the six elements are explained in context with Proximity Designs macro-environment and how it impacts the businesses of the firm.

How to do PESTEL Analysis for Proximity Designs

To do comprehensive PESTEL analysis of case study – Proximity Designs , we have researched numerous components under the six factors of PESTEL analysis.

Political Factors that Impact Proximity Designs

Political factors impact seven key decision making areas – economic environment, socio-cultural environment, rate of innovation & investment in research & development, environmental laws, legal requirements, and acceptance of new technologies.

Policy Making Impact on Proximity Designs

Government policies have significant impact on the business environment of any country. The firm in “ Proximity Designs ” needs to navigate these policy decisions to create either an edge for itself or reduce the negative impact of the policy as far as possible.

Data safety laws – The countries in which Proximity Taylors is operating, firms are required to store customer data within the premises of the country. Proximity Taylors needs to restructure its IT policies to accommodate these changes. In the EU countries, firms are required to make special provision for privacy issues and other laws.

Competition Regulations – Numerous countries have strong competition laws both regarding the monopoly conditions and day to day fair business practices. Proximity Designs has numerous instances where the competition regulations aspects can be scrutinized.

Import restrictions on products – Before entering the new market, Proximity Taylors in case study Proximity Designs" should look into the import restrictions that may be present in the prospective market.

Export restrictions on products – Apart from direct product export restrictions in field of technology and agriculture, a number of countries also have capital controls. Proximity Taylors in case study “ Proximity Designs ” should look into these export restrictions policies.

Foreign Direct Investment Policies – Government policies favors local companies over international policies, Proximity Taylors in case study “ Proximity Designs ” should understand in minute details regarding the Foreign Direct Investment policies of the prospective market.

Taxation & Regulation Impact on Proximity Designs

Corporate Taxes – The rate of taxes is often used by governments to lure foreign direct investments or increase domestic investment in a certain sector. Corporate taxation can be divided into two categories – taxes on profits and taxes on operations. Taxes on profits number is important for companies that already have a sustainable business model, while taxes on operations is far more significant for companies that are looking to set up new plants or operations.

Tariffs – Chekout how much tariffs the firm needs to pay in the “ Proximity Designs ” case study. The level of tariffs will determine the viability of the business model that the firm is contemplating. If the tariffs are high then it will be extremely difficult to compete with the local competitors. But if the tariffs are between 5-10% then Proximity Taylors can compete against other competitors.

Government Scheme & Subsidies Impact on Proximity Designs

Research and Development Subsidies and Policies – Governments often provide tax breaks and other incentives for companies to innovate in various sectors of priority. Managers at Proximity Designs case study have to assess whether their business can benefit from such government assistance and subsidies.

Consumer protection – Different countries have different consumer protection laws. Managers need to clarify not only the consumer protection laws in advance but also legal implications if the firm fails to meet any of them.

Political System & Stability, and its Impact on Proximity Designs

Political System and Its Implications – Different political systems have different approach to free market and entrepreneurship. Managers need to assess these factors even before entering the market.

Freedom of Press is critical for fair trade and transparency. Countries where freedom of press is not prevalent there are high chances of both political and commercial corruption.

Corruption level – Proximity Taylors needs to assess the level of corruptions both at the official level and at the market level, even before entering a new market. To tackle the menace of corruption – a firm should have a clear SOP that provides managers at each level what to do when they encounter instances of either systematic corruption or bureaucrats looking to take bribes from the firm.

Independence of judiciary – It is critical for fair business practices. If a country doesn’t have independent judiciary then there is no point entry into such a country for business.

Government attitude towards trade unions – Different political systems and government have different attitude towards trade unions and collective bargaining. The firm needs to assess – its comfort dealing with the unions and regulations regarding unions in a given market or industry. If both are on the same page then it makes sense to enter, otherwise it doesn’t.

Economic Factors that Impact Proximity Designs

Social Factors that Impact Proximity Designs

Technological Factors that Impact Proximity Designs

Environmental Factors that Impact Proximity Designs

Legal Factors that Impact Proximity Designs

Step 3 – Industry Specific Analysis

What is Porter Five Forces Analysis

PESTEL stands for political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors that impact the external environment of firm in Proximity Designs case study. PESTEL analysis of " Proximity Designs" can help us understand why the organization is performing badly, what are the factors in the external environment that are impacting the performance of the organization, and how the organization can either manage or mitigate the impact of these external factors.

Step 4 – SWOT Analysis / Internal Environment Analysis

Step 5 – Porter Value Chain / VRIO / VRIN Analysis

Step 6 – Evaluating Alternatives & Recommendations

Step 7 – Basis for Recommendations

References :: Proximity Designs case study solution