Business Report: Analysis of Oxford University Press Performance

This report presents a comprehensive business analysis of Oxford University Press, a major player in the publishing sector. The analysis begins with an introduction to the company and its industry context, followed by an application of theoretical models such as SWOT and Porter's Five Forces to evaluate its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The report delves into the competitive landscape, assessing the bargaining power of suppliers and consumers, the threat of substitutes, and the impact of new entrants and existing competitors. Furthermore, the report identifies key challenges faced by Oxford University Press, such as the rise of social media and online platforms, and proposes potential solutions. Part 2 includes a self-assessment using the SWOT model and a reflective statement on key skills development, providing a personal perspective on the learning experience. The report concludes with a summary of findings and recommendations for future strategic planning.

INDIVIDUAL REPORT AND
REFLECTION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PART 1............................................................................................................................................3
Application of theory, models, analysis of venture and how it is impacted by external
environment influences...............................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
PART 2............................................................................................................................................9
Self assessment analysis by using SWOT model........................................................................9
Reflective statement based on key skills development...............................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Business analysis is defined as a research discipline of determining venture need and
identifying appropriate solutions to organizational issues. The current assignment will be based
on Oxford University Press, which is one of the key departments of University of Oxford. The
study will explain strengths, weaknesses and other things about company by using SWOT and
Porter's five force models. Furthermore, the report will justify key problems faced by firm and
their solutions.
PART 1
Application of theory, models, analysis of venture and how it is impacted by external
environment influences
Industry data-
Oxford University Press has successfully operated its venture within publishing sector, in
the UK, where it has become familiar to millions through a diverse advertising programme that
includes English Language teaching materials, journals, dictionaries, etc. The sector has a
turnover of 6 Billion, with trade income accounting for almost 60% of profits (Kharlamov and
Parry, 2020). It directly hires 29,000 workers in the United Kingdom and contribute to improve
the living standard of local people by offering more than 70,000 jobs opportunities.
Key ventures-
Within publication sector, UK there are many press organizations has been operating in
effective manner. It includes Cambridge University press, Taylor Francis, Hachette Livre, The
Economist, Springer etc (Hopkins, 2020).
Consumers and suppliers-
University students and people who are related to educational field is the target customers
of organization. The firm is governed by the group of 15 academics nominated by vice-
chancellor known as delegates of press.
Rivals-
Springer Nature and all above mention companies are the key rivals of Oxford University
press.
Performance, strengths, weaknesses & challenges faced-

Organization is the world's biggest university press that has been published for three
primary markets like English language teaching, research and education. It performs successfully
within publishing sector by creating top class educational and academic resources and making
them accessible as globally as possible.
The key strength of chosen company is its academic resource selling base, which is more
than 110 million units per year. On the other hand, it has some weak points that may affect
negatively upon current management practices. For example, it offers premium content which is
still not affordable that means it may allow firm to have limited consumers.
Rapid growth of online platforms where educational resources are easily accessible, may
bring challenge for company which it may face and affect in negative manner.
SWOT analysis of Oxford University Press-
SWOT is one of the best strategic models that has used in context of varied companies, in
order to determine their key strengths, weaknesses, threat and business growth opportunities.
Here, it is applied in regard to Oxford University Press.
Strengths-
 Organization has grown within its sector by using major their major strengths. For
example, editorial strength of firm assure management that its publications are closely
interwoven with local needs and also ensure that it has successfully reached at
international level (Her and Wong, 2020).
 Stable financial performance is another strength of Oxford University Press, which allow
management to take better action and adopt new technologies for making educational
resources available for every one at any degree either national or international.
 It has range of products in term of children's books, Printed music, scholarly
monographs, higher education textbooks etc. that help to retain potential customers with
brand for longer period of time.
Weaknesses-
 It sells teaching materials in English Language, which is the main weakness of firm as it
makes company unable to gain the attention of those customers who seeks to purchase
these materials in different languages such as French, Hindi, etc.

 Furthermore, firm has generated its revenue from dictionary segment as it other segments
are may not much effective in term of increasing sales and profitability, which may put
negative impact on its performance and success level.
Opportunities-
 Technology advancement is one of the biggest and best growth opportunities for Oxford
University Press as it help firm to reach at international level without conducting many
attempts (Moore and et.al., 2020). It allows management to publish teaching materials
and other products all over the world in just one click on digital marketing sites.
 Organization grabs the chance to grow its venture even better in the market by creating
teaching materials in other languages as well along with English, which is quite
beneficial for its venture.
Threats-
 Continuous growth of online products or websites posses the biggest threats for Oxford
University press as it hamper its work and strategies. It put a lot of pressure on
management to take better actions in context of this threat as it may lead to decrease
customers base and profits.
 Market shifting process in term of bricks and mortar retail to online is another key threat
that affect organization sales and profitability in negative manner.
Competitive position of company through Porter's five forces model-
Bargaining power of suppliers-
The degree of this force is low because great accessibility of suppliers within publishing
sector has decreased their bargain power, which may put positive impact on firm in term of
saving money. Suppliers provide raw materials which include paper, covers, pen etc. to Oxford
University Press that management use to prepare teaching materials for teachers and other people
as well (Sevilla and Ellaga, 2020). With low bargain power, suppliers are unable to affect pricing
structure of firm as they may work with previous pricing format.
Bargaining power of consumers-
The bargain power of customers is high because substitute accessibility give power to
each customer in term of bargaining, which may put negative impact on sales and revenue of
brand. In recent time, teachers and students are able to understand new topic and subject relate to
their study via using online sources, which is beneficial for everyone in term of saving time and

money. Due to this factor, customers are capable to bargain in context of books, journals,
English Language Teaching materials etc.
Threat of substitute products or services-
Degree of this element is high because many substitute products are available in market,
which in return put negative impact on selling operation of Oxford University Press. For
example, via online sources and sites, individual person get information about varied subjects,
instead of reading books and novels. Substitute products bring challenges for company in term of
decreasing its sales and customers base, which is not acceptable at all. It gains attention of buyers
towards creating accounts on online websites.
Threat of new entrance-
The threat of new company entrance is quite low because many well reputed press
organizations are accessible in the sector where Oxford University Press has operated, which
have strong brand image in market that no one can beat. When new firm wish to enter into
market, they need to make huge investment which is not possible for each company to do. So, it
can be said that low threat of new entrance put positive impact on productivity of organization.
Competition between existing organizations-
The rivals of Oxford University Press give tough competition to each other by using
digital marketing technologies and other tools. It increases the rivalry between existing player
more than last years, which may put negative impact on current management practices and
decision-making process of company.
Determining key issue faced, resourcing and any management issues of Oxford University
Press-
Oxford University Press face one of the biggest challenge while operating its venture
within publication sector and that is emergence of social media advertising which make firm
enable to manage its construction of knowledge in effective manner. In order to overcome this
challenge, company may create its account on social media sites through which they may publish
teaching materials all over the world and gain benefits in term of reaching at international
consumers. It is one of the best and most appropriate tactics that firm may adopt and implement
for longer period of time.

CONCLUSION
From above analysis, it has been concluded that by taking right actions and using
effective approaches, organization has overcome key challenges which it faces from longer
period.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Her, Q. L. and Wong, J., 2020. Significant correlation versus strength of correlation. American
Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. 77(2). pp.73-75.
Hopkins, T., 2020. Liberal economists and Owenism: Blanqui and Reybaud. History of
European Ideas. pp.1-21.
Kharlamov, A. A. and Parry, G., 2020. The impact of servitization and digitization on
productivity and profitability of the firm: a systematic approach. Production Planning
& Control. pp.1-13.
Moore, E. C. and et.al., 2020. A systematic review of the impact of health information
technology on nurses’ time. Journal of the American Medical Informatics
Association. 27(5). pp.798-807.
Sevilla, N. B. R. and Ellaga, J. P. A., 2020. Operations Management Practices of Printing Press
in Region IV-A: A Framework for Sustainable Strategic Operations. Journal of
Business and Management Studies. 2(3). pp.70-80.

PART 2
Self assessment analysis by using SWOT model
Strengths-
 Effective communication skills
 Problem solving competence
Weaknesses-
 Lack of knowledge related to ICT
 Lack of collaborative skill
Opportunities-
 Technology advancement
 Emerging skills development approaches and techniques
Threats-
 Changes relate to skills requirements
Reflective statement based on key skills development
In order to present reflective statement in presentable and systematic manner, I have
utilized the most effective reflection model and that is Gibbs reflective (Miller, Ford and Yang,
2020). By using this model I have shared my personal experience which I have gained while
conducting current study. Through this concept, I have also shared my personal experience in
context of employability skills development.
Description-
The entire duration of my skills development is quite good as I have learned a lot of
things that help me in the future and I will use to work in effective manner. While conducting
above analysis, I have learned how to gather essential that relate to current subject. I have used
my communication skill, which enable me to collect key information about chose organization. I
have good verbal and written communication competence, which allow me to gather data about
anything and built good relation with others. While doing this assignment I have improved by
key employability skills even better and develop new one as well in effective and systematic
manner. Along with this skill, I also have problem solving competence, which permit me to work
in a group and handle critical situations such example task allocation. By taking right action and

developing appropriate action plan I have developed my knowledge in context of ICT which I do
not have. Furthermore, during this study I have developed collaboration competence as well.
Feeling-
While conducting above study, I have felt lonely and quite nervous in term of collecting
data. It is quite challenging for me to work alone without taking support of other people, which
increase my nervous more. In initial period when I just started my work, I have faced challenge
in context of selecting appropriate sources where reliable data is accessible. Without choosing
right information source I cannot be able to represent report in front of anyone as it affect my
work and image among other people. At the starting point certain things are unclear, which also
hamper my performance. But after few minutes later, when I have find out suitable source where
the data about my subject is accessible I feel relaxed. It helps me in term of improving my
motivational level. As time passing, all my negative feeling turned into positiveness. It happens
because I have found the way to complete my work. But still due to lack of ICT and
collaborative skills, I felt difficulties in context of using advance technologies and working in an
group.
Evaluation-
I have evaluated that after couple of weeks I started my work without any fear and
complexities, because while doing a lot of research I have understood which model is beneficial
and appropriate for identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in context of
organization. I have examined that those skills which I don't have, play a vital role in my career
growth and success. These employability competences bring a lot of benefits for me in term of
increasing my speed via using advance technologies, which in return accomplish my work on
time. I have evaluated that I need few skills which enable me to present good work. Along with
above observation, I have also observed that there are different forms of approaches accessible,
which I may use to enhance new competences in effective manner. I have examined that with the
support of continuous lecture and sessions of several experience professors the capability to
develop ICT skill is increased. While conducting above research, I have evaluated that by using
right model and concept I have gathered reliable and suitable data.
Analysis-
I have analysed that my communication skills helped to build trust, provide clarity and
increase my engagement with others. It contributed to increase my productivity and performance

level even better than last few months. Along with that, my problem solving skills also bring
advantages for me. For example, it gives me tools to apply mathematical and other forms of
understanding handling actual issues or challenges which I have faced while conducting current
study. I have analysed few things which I need to use and apply for making my work better and
present in influencing manner. I am unable to solve technical problems while working on
systems to collect data about my work, because of lack of ICT skills.
Conclusion-
From overall analysis, I have identified that effective communication and problem
solving skills has provided many benefits to me as it help to build good connection with other
people from which I have taken a lot of data. Furthermore, by using problem solving
competence, I have solved key challenges in context of team work and task allocation. I have
identified that due to lack of collaboration and ICT skills, I am unable to present my work even
better. I have determined their importance and decided to develop for grabbing further career
opportunities. I have to take better action in term of creating action plan for developing new
skills. There are many options and techniques accessible in the world which I may use to
overcome challenges and develop skills which are quite useful. I have understood that above two
employability skills make my work much easier than ever, which is important. From above
discussion, I can say that action plan is the best way through which any type of skills will be
developed.
Action plan-
Action plan is defined as detailed plan which outline actions needed to develop specific
skills and knowledge about particular field. Here, it is considered to develop those skills which I
do not have such as ICT and collaboration. These two competences are quite beneficial and
useful for me as it help to solve technical issue, which I have faced while using electronic
systems like computer, laptop etc.
Development areas Importance Approaches Time frame
ICT I need to develop ICT
skill because it helps
to find out data about
any topic in short term
period. By developing
I can develop ICT skill
by taking class and
attending workshops.
In recent time, most of
the people attend
20 days

this ability, I can send
essential email,
communicate with
others by using
technologies. It stands
for information and
communication
technology skill.
workshop to develop
or improve specific
competence.
Collaboration skill Along with above
competence, I also
need to develop the
current one because it
is important in term of
making a person able
to work in a team with
skilled applicants.
By taking part in
group discussions, I
can develop this skill
in systematic manner.
10 days