Winnebagoindustries: Swot Analysis and Three Year Strategic Plan
Running Head: WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES: SWOT ANALYSIS
WinnebagoIndustries: SWOT Analysis and Three Year Strategic Plan
Paul S. Bodkins
Strayer University
BUS490 (008016) Business Policy
Professor: Kelly Lambert
May 30, 2010
Winnebago Industries: SWOT Analysis and Three Year Strategic Plan
Winnebago Industries, located in Forest City, Iowa has recently experienced what could be considered its most challenging decade since founded in 1958, by business man John Hanson. Synonymous with the term motor home, Winnebago has made traveling with the comforts of home popular with the American adventurer for over half a century. Steady growth into the 21st century has allowed Winnebago to gain a strong financial footing and become the leading motor home, or recreational vehicle (RV) manufacturer in the industry. As will be shown in this report Winnebago sales have been directly affected by fluctuating interest rates, rising fuel costs, and a recent economic recession which has been dubbed the worst since the Great Depression. Through a brief background discussion of the firms’ current internal strengths and weaknesses, along with its external opportunities and threats (SWOT), followed by a detailed SWOT matrix this report will recommend specific strategic actions for the firm to take over the next three years in preparation for future growth and maintenance as the leading motor home, or recreational vehicle (RV) supplier in the United States.
Internal strengths at Winnebago stem from its commitment to quality and product innovation via state of the art design and manufacturing systems (Winnebago Industries, n.d.), which as noted by Bland and Marcis, as cited in David (Case 10, 2009), have allowed the firm to gain a strong financial footing and pay off all debt from land, buildings, and equipment. Internal weaknesses at Winnebago, as noted by Business Wire (March 18, 2010) and Bland and Marcis, as cited in David (Case 10, 2009) are
WinnebagoIndustries: SWOT Analysis and Three Year Strategic Plan
Paul S. Bodkins
Strayer University
BUS490 (008016) Business Policy
Professor: Kelly Lambert
May 30, 2010
Winnebago Industries: SWOT Analysis and Three Year Strategic Plan
Winnebago Industries, located in Forest City, Iowa has recently experienced what could be considered its most challenging decade since founded in 1958, by business man John Hanson. Synonymous with the term motor home, Winnebago has made traveling with the comforts of home popular with the American adventurer for over half a century. Steady growth into the 21st century has allowed Winnebago to gain a strong financial footing and become the leading motor home, or recreational vehicle (RV) manufacturer in the industry. As will be shown in this report Winnebago sales have been directly affected by fluctuating interest rates, rising fuel costs, and a recent economic recession which has been dubbed the worst since the Great Depression. Through a brief background discussion of the firms’ current internal strengths and weaknesses, along with its external opportunities and threats (SWOT), followed by a detailed SWOT matrix this report will recommend specific strategic actions for the firm to take over the next three years in preparation for future growth and maintenance as the leading motor home, or recreational vehicle (RV) supplier in the United States.
Internal strengths at Winnebago stem from its commitment to quality and product innovation via state of the art design and manufacturing systems (Winnebago Industries, n.d.), which as noted by Bland and Marcis, as cited in David (Case 10, 2009), have allowed the firm to gain a strong financial footing and pay off all debt from land, buildings, and equipment. Internal weaknesses at Winnebago, as noted by Business Wire (March 18, 2010) and Bland and Marcis, as cited in David (Case 10, 2009) are
References: Business Wire. March 18, 2010. Winnebago Industries reports improved results for second quarter fiscal 2010. Retrieved from http://www.marketwatch.com/story/winnebago-industries-reports-improved-results-for-second-quarter-fiscal-2010-2010-03-18 David, F.R. (2009). BUS 490: Strategic management concepts and cases: 2009 custom edition (12th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall/Pearson. Winnebago Industries. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.winnebagoind.com/company/about-us/profile.php