Strategic Adaptation in Travel Agencies: Integrating MARA with SWOT for Uncertainty Navigation

Journal Title: Journal of Operational and Strategic Analytics - Year 2023, Vol 1, Issue 4

Abstract

In the realm of managerial decision-making, particularly within the last few decades, the process has emerged as a formidable challenge. This paper focuses on strategic decision-making, crucial in determining organizational success or failure amidst prevailing uncertainties. To address this, the Matrix Approach to Robustness Analysis (MARA), a recent innovation, is integrated with the established Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT) matrix. This integration aims to deliver robust outcomes in strategic planning for travel agencies. The methodology involves a comprehensive analysis of internal and external factors pertinent to a travel agency, applying the analytical rigor of the SWOT matrix. Subsequent to this analysis, a series of strategies are formulated. Central to this study is the identification of key environmental indicators, as perceived by stakeholders, which influence strategic outcomes. Through these indicators, various future scenarios are constructed, culminating in nineteen plausible scenarios. Each strategy, totalling twelve, is then evaluated against these scenarios to ascertain the conditions under which they are most effective, resulting in a performance matrix. The final phase involves calculating the robustness analysis scores for each strategy under two different assessment conditions: rigorous and lenient. These scores provide a basis for strategy prioritization in both scenarios. The analysis reveals that the strategy of expanding new pilgrimage tours holds the greatest promise, while the employment of relatives within the agency is deemed least effective. This study contributes to the field by offering a structured methodology for travel agencies to navigate uncertain environments, using a combination of MARA and SWOT. The findings underscore the importance of scenario-based strategic planning and robustness analysis in enhancing decision-making processes.

Authors and Affiliations

Mona Mohebi Kordsofla, Ali Sorourkhah

Keywords

In the realm of managerial decision-making particularly within the last few decades the process has emerged as a formidable challenge. This paper focuses on strategic decision-making crucial in determining organizational success or failure amidst prevailing uncertainties. To address this the Matrix Approach to Robustness Analysis (MARA) a recent innovation is integrated with the established Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT) matrix. This integration aims to deliver robust outcomes in strategic planning for travel agencies. The methodology involves a comprehensive analysis of internal and external factors pertinent to a travel agency applying the analytical rigor of the SWOT matrix. Subsequent to this analysis a series of strategies are formulated. Central to this study is the identification of key environmental indicators as perceived by stakeholders which influence strategic outcomes. Through these indicators various future scenarios are constructed culminating in nineteen plausible scenarios. Each strategy totalling twelve is then evaluated against these scenarios to ascertain the conditions under which they are most effective resulting in a performance matrix. The final phase involves calculating the robustness analysis scores for each strategy under two different assessment conditions: rigorous and lenient. These scores provide a basis for strategy prioritization in both scenarios. The analysis reveals that the strategy of expanding new pilgrimage tours holds the greatest promise while the employment of relatives within the agency is deemed least effective. This study contributes to the field by offering a structured methodology for travel agencies to navigate uncertain environments using a combination of MARA and SWOT. The findings underscore the importance of scenario-based strategic planning and robustness analysis in enhancing decision-making processes.

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  • EP ID EP731982
  • DOI https://doi.org/10.56578/josa010403
  • Views 53
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Mona Mohebi Kordsofla, Ali Sorourkhah (2023). Strategic Adaptation in Travel Agencies: Integrating MARA with SWOT for Uncertainty Navigation. Journal of Operational and Strategic Analytics, 1(4), -. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-731982