SWOT Analysis - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
Content
SWOT Analysis - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
SWOT Analysis is an effective method of identifying your Strengths and Weaknesses, and to examine the Opportunities and Threats you face. Often carrying out an analysis using the SWOT framework will be enough to reveal changes that can be usefully made. The purpose of SWOT analysis is to isolate key issues and to facilitate a strategic approach. You can use a SWOT Analysis to identify and analyze the Strengths and Weaknesses of your organization (internal), as well as the Opportunities and Threats revealed by the information you have gathered on the external environment. While developing a strategic plan, or planning a solution to a problem, after you have analyzed the external environment (for example, the culture, economy, health, sources of funding, demographics, etc.).To carry out a SWOT Analysis answer the following questions:
S Strengths
Behaviors or circumstances that help you achieve your goals: What are your advantages? What do you do well? What could be improved? What is done badly? What should be avoided? Identify the additional and/or unexpected chances for success: Where are the good chances facing you? What are the interesting trends? What are the aspects of a situation that inhibit, harm, or threaten your chance to achieve a desired goal.
W Weaknesses
O Opportunities
T Threats
Consider this from your own point of view and from the point of view of the people you deal with. Don't be modest, be realistic. If you are having any difficulty with this, try writing down a list of your characteristics. Some of these will hopefully be strengths! Again this should be considered from an internal and external basis - do other people perceive weaknesses that you don't see? Do your competitors do any better? It is best to be realistic now, and face any unpleasant truths as soon as possible. Useful opportunities can come from such things as: Changes in technology on both a broad and narrow scale Changes in local or state policies Changes in social patterns, population profiles, lifestyle changes, etc. Local events What obstacles do you face? What is your competition doing? Are the required specifications for your job, products or services changing? Is changing technology threatening your position?
Carrying out this analysis is will often be illuminating - both in terms of pointing out what needs to be done, and in putting problems into perspective. You can use this information to help you develop a strategy that uses the strengths and opportunities to reduce the weaknesses and threats, and to achieve the objectives of your organization.
In-Class Activity: Project teams for hypothetical companies – each must develop a new slogan:
After your group has developed its slogan, each individual should conduct a personal SWOT assessment of his/her listening skills during this exercise. When all members have completed their assessments, compare and discuss your assessment with the other members of your group.
Potential Internal Strengths 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Potential External Opportunities 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Potential Internal Weaknesses
Potential External Threats
151301052.doc
SWOT Analysis is an effective method of identifying your Strengths and Weaknesses, and to examine the Opportunities and Threats you face. Often carrying out an analysis using the SWOT framework will be enough to reveal changes that can be usefully made. The purpose of SWOT analysis is to isolate key issues and to facilitate a strategic approach. You can use a SWOT Analysis to identify and analyze the Strengths and Weaknesses of your organization (internal), as well as the Opportunities and Threats revealed by the information you have gathered on the external environment. While developing a strategic plan, or planning a solution to a problem, after you have analyzed the external environment (for example, the culture, economy, health, sources of funding, demographics, etc.).To carry out a SWOT Analysis answer the following questions:
S Strengths
Behaviors or circumstances that help you achieve your goals: What are your advantages? What do you do well? What could be improved? What is done badly? What should be avoided? Identify the additional and/or unexpected chances for success: Where are the good chances facing you? What are the interesting trends? What are the aspects of a situation that inhibit, harm, or threaten your chance to achieve a desired goal.
W Weaknesses
O Opportunities
T Threats
Consider this from your own point of view and from the point of view of the people you deal with. Don't be modest, be realistic. If you are having any difficulty with this, try writing down a list of your characteristics. Some of these will hopefully be strengths! Again this should be considered from an internal and external basis - do other people perceive weaknesses that you don't see? Do your competitors do any better? It is best to be realistic now, and face any unpleasant truths as soon as possible. Useful opportunities can come from such things as: Changes in technology on both a broad and narrow scale Changes in local or state policies Changes in social patterns, population profiles, lifestyle changes, etc. Local events What obstacles do you face? What is your competition doing? Are the required specifications for your job, products or services changing? Is changing technology threatening your position?
Carrying out this analysis is will often be illuminating - both in terms of pointing out what needs to be done, and in putting problems into perspective. You can use this information to help you develop a strategy that uses the strengths and opportunities to reduce the weaknesses and threats, and to achieve the objectives of your organization.
In-Class Activity: Project teams for hypothetical companies – each must develop a new slogan:
After your group has developed its slogan, each individual should conduct a personal SWOT assessment of his/her listening skills during this exercise. When all members have completed their assessments, compare and discuss your assessment with the other members of your group.
Potential Internal Strengths 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Potential External Opportunities 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Potential Internal Weaknesses
Potential External Threats
151301052.doc
