SWOT Analysis

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

SWOT

SWOT analysis is an effective method of identifying your Strengths and Weaknesses, and to examine the Opportunities and Threats you face. With this information a manager can more effectively plan strategies that optimally position their business in a competitive and changing environment.

The following slides are examples of the questions to be answered or areas to be examined when carrying out a SWOT Analysis.

Strengths

• What are your advantages?

• What do you do well?

• Manufacturing efficiencies?

• Skilled workforce?

• Strong financing?

• Superior Reputation?

Weaknesses

• What could be improved? • What is done badly? • What should be avoided? • Outdated facilities?• Inadequate R&D?• Obsolete technologies?• Maturing products?• Weak management?• Past planning failures?

Opportunities

• Where are the good chances facing you?

• What are the interesting trends?

• Possible new markets?

• Strong economy?

• Weak market rivals?

• Emerging technologies?

• Growth of existing market?

Threats

• What obstacles do you face? • What is your competition doing? • New competitors?• Are the required specifications for products or

services changing? • Is changing technology threatening your position? • New regulations?• Adverse changes in social patterns, population

profiles, lifestyle changes, etc.• Substitute products?• Do you have bad debt or cash-flow problems?