Northrise University

30029 Kitwe - Ndola Dual Carriage Highway. P.O Box 240271, Ndola, Zambia.

ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET

Student ID: 1905504

Student Name: Patrick Chibabula

Course Code: BUS402

Course Title: Business Strategy

Instructor Name: Mrs. Benedetti Mwiya

Essay/Assignment Title: SWOT Analysis on Northrise University

Due Date: March 9, 2022

Declaration:
I acknowledge that submitting this document binds me to the following:
To the best of my knowledge, I assert that no part of this assignment has been copied from the work of anyone else, be it another stude
or any other author or from any source except where due credit is given in the text below, or has been written for me by someone else
except where the relevant instructors and authorities have explicitly permitted such collaboration .

SIGNATURE: P. Chibabula

Instructor’s Comments:

GRADE [ ]
SWOT Analysis of Northrise University 2

This assignment is going to carry out a SWOT analysis on Northrise University. The

reminder of this paper is structured as follows; In the first section, the paper will describe the

meaning of SWOT analysis. The next section will describe Northrise University and conduct a

SWOT analysis on the University. The third session will provide a conclusion from the analysis

conducted on the University, followed by a recommendation on how the SWOT analysis can be

used effectively to produce alternative options for Northrise University, and the conclusion in the

last section.

SWOT Analysis

During times of indecision, a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT)

analysis has become a critical tool for firms to evaluate their market position and is frequently

used to study the internal and external environments of enterprises (Rozmi et al., 2018). Internal

or external influences are identified by the four components. Internal elements that help an

organization achieve its goals are referred to as strengths, and internal elements that hinder

organizational performance are referred to as weaknesses. Opportunities—external factors that

aid an organization in achieving its objectives—include not just favorable environmental factors,

but also opportunities to fill gaps and start new projects. Threats, on the other hand, are elements

of the external environment of the organization that act as roadblocks or prospective roadblocks

to achieving its objectives (Aldehayyat & Anchor, 2008)

SWOT Applications

Without an uncertainty, a SWOT analysis is a useful tool for strategic planning (Rozmi,

2018). It has been employed in a variety of fields and situations. These sectors and contexts,

however, can be classified into five key areas, according to the examined literature: general
SWOT Analysis of Northrise University 3

management, academic and education, marketing and social media, health and healthcare, and

agriculture. In this sense, the paper will focus on academics and education, with Northrise

University as a case study.

Northrise University

In Ndola, Zambia, Northrise University (NU) is a private Christian university. Dr. Moffat

Zimba and Mrs. Doreen Zimba launched it in 2003. Local and international students study

academic fields at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels at NU. While Northrise University

provides a nationally accredited education based on Christian ideals, it welcomes students of all

religions. Northrise University now has over 1000 students enrolled. Over 500 graduates have

worked in various sectors of the economy of Zambia since the inception of the University. Dordt

College in Sioux Center, Iowa; California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo,

California; Shanghai Normal University in China; Fontys University of Applied Sciences in the

Netherlands; and Baylor University in Waco Texas are among the partners of the University

(University, 2021).

Northrise University provides financial aid for eleven undergraduate and graduate

programs in business, information and communication technologies, theology, law, health and

social sciences, and education. Northrise University envisions Zambia as having the "#1 Private

University in Southern Africa" in the future. Each Northrise student contributes to this mission,

and Zambia has been transformed one student at a time. NU envisions 80,000 alumni making an

impact in their communities and improving Africa by the year 2104, when they celebrate their

centennial. The NU vision is based on four Strategic Imperatives: Construct campus facilities to

allow the institution to move onto the site and educate more students, as well as to ensure the
SWOT Analysis of Northrise University 4

university's long-term viability. Develop and retain a world-class faculty, and foster a

discipleship culture among students. (University, 2021).

Strengths

Affordability, program offerings, faculty and staff, equipment and technology, and

student support services are among Northrise University's most noticeable strengths. Northrise

University is known for providing a good educational value, reasonable tuition prices, and debt-

free status for the majority of its students. Because of the program's diversity in degree plans,

numerous modalities, and job market adaptability, Northrise University's wide-ranging

certificates and degrees have been highlighted significantly (University, Student Handbook,

2011). Faculty and staff become assets because of their commitment to students, competence in

their fields, and resourcefulness in their roles. Furthermore, the institution features cutting-edge

technology and equipment in its classrooms for instruction as well as in its infrastructure for

operations. Because of a strong library, solid tutoring, student life, chapel, and service learning,

student support services emerge as a strength.

Weaknesses. Understaffing, outreach, internal processes, and communication are the

most notable weaknesses at Northrise University. Understaffing in a variety of areas is one of

Northrise University's most upsetting weakness, resulting in hidden processes, insufficient

assistance, and a shortage of workers for large-scale initiatives. Because of the lack of a public

relations office on campus, a lack of program-specific marketing, and an unfair distribution of

marketing resources, outreach is named the second most noted Weakness. Internal processes, a

third flaw, needed to be improved for efficiency and updated to reflect new library information.

Due to institutional silos, oversaturation of information, and irregular updates on procedural and

policy changes, communication has become a Weakness (University, 2021). The numerous
SWOT Analysis of Northrise University 5

modifications to the course paths and the experimental adjustments to the examination structure

demonstrate the foregoing.

Opportunities. Partnerships, student placements, finance, and labor market trends are the

most prominent opportunities outside of Northrise University. Opportunities include

collaborations with universities and colleges (Dordt College, California Polytechnic State

University, Shanghai Normal University, Fontys University, and Baylor University), school

districts, labor industries, and government entities (Ndola Chamber of Commerce Trade and

Industries). A second Opportunity was student placements, which included course placements

upon matriculation, apprenticeships and networking while in school, and employment

placements after graduation. Because of the inflow of industries to the area and the rising

demand for professionals in the health, technology, and business fields, regional labor market

developments provide another opportunity (University, 2021). Creating internal and external

Northrise University traditions by rekindling fruitful partnerships with the community through

Ndola impact and service learning.

Threats. Competing institutions, bad impressions, dual credit concerns, and labor market

developments all posed threats to Northrise University. Because Northrise University is ranked

11th in the country, the top ten rival institutions comprised proprietary institutions, universities,

and online schools, all of which might result in student and employee churn (webometrics,

2022). Because of unfavorable impressions of the discontinuation policy, a general devaluation

of higher education, and an image of affordability has been impaired, negative perceptions

emerged as a threat. Dual credit difficulties posed a threat because of their detrimental influence

on Northrise University enrollment, competition from other universities, and state-level

skepticism about the program. Because of sectors that hire people with minimum degrees and a
SWOT Analysis of Northrise University 6

boom in the local economy, labor market developments appeared to be a threat as well

(University, Student Handbook, 2011).

SWOT Analysis Conclusion

Given Northrise University's current performance, as well as existing opportunities and

threats, in terms of its quality as a competitive higher education institution of "advanced

technology, research, and education," the SWOT analysis revealed that this self-assessment

process, followed by external evaluation, is a necessary step toward further improvements in

terms of national competitiveness in the higher education sector. Hereunder is how Northrise

University can capitalize on SWOT Analysis for strategic planning.

Recommendation

A SWOT analysis is used to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and

threats that face a company (Jackson et al., 2003). SWOT analysis recognizes the importance of

both internal and external factors in achieving a company's objectives. The internal aspects of a

business are those that are under its control, whereas the external aspects are those that are

beyond its control (Bull et al., 2016). The SWOT analysis can be used to generate different

solutions for Northrise University based on a combination of strengths, weaknesses,

opportunities, and threats analyses. Strengths and weaknesses can be clearly matched with

opportunities and threats using such strategies. Northrise University can establish four strategies

based on internal and external factors: SO (strengths - opportunities), ST (strengths - threats),

WO (weakness - opportunities), and WT (weakness - threats) (David et al., 2019). The SWOT

matrix can also be constructed using tools like the external factors evaluation (EFE) matrix, the

internal factors evaluation (IFE) matrix, or the competitive profile matrix (CPM), according to

David et al., (2019).

SWOT Analysis of Northrise University 7

Conclusion

This assignment is going to carry out a SWOT analysis on Northrise University. The

reminder of this paper was structured as follows; In the first section, the paper described the

meaning of SWOT analysis. The next section conducted a SWOT analysis on Northrise

University. The third session provided a conclusion on the SWOT analysis carried on Northrise

University, followed by a recommendation on how the SWOT analysis conducted can be used

effectively to produce alternative options for Northrise University.

SWOT Analysis of Northrise University 8

References

Aldehayyat, J. S. (2008). Strategic planning tools and techniques in Jordan. Awareness and use.

Strategic Change, 17(7‐8), 281-293.

Bull, J. J.-H. (2016). A SWOT analysis of the ecosystem services framework. Strengths,

weaknesses, opportunities and threats, 17, 99-111.

David, F. R. (2019). What is the key to effective SWOT analysis, including AQCD factors? SAM

Advanced Management Journal,, 84(1), 25-32.

Jackson, S. E. (2003). Recent research on team and organizational diversity. Journal of

Management, 29(6), 801-830.

Rozmi, A. N. (2018). The perception of ICT adoption in small medium enterprise: A SWOT

analysis. International Journal of Innovation Business Strategy, 19(1), 69-79.

University, N. (2011). Student Handbook. Ndola: Mission Press.

University, N. (2021, September 15). northrise.edu.zm. Retrieved from Google:

www.northrise.edu.zm

webometrics. (2022, January 1). webometrics.info/en/Africa/Zambia. Retrieved from

Google.com: www.webometrics.info/en/Africa/Zambia
SWOT Analysis of Northrise University 9