SWOT ANALYSIS

Prepared by-

OM PRAKASH SONI
PGDMLM
ROLL NO. 04
 SWOT Analysis

A scan of the internal and external environment is an important part

of the strategic planning process. Environmental factors internal to
the firm usually can be classified as strengths (S) or weaknesses (W),
and those external to the firm can be classified as opportunities (O) or
threats (T). Such an analysis of the strategic environment is referred
to as a SWOT analysis.

SWOT Analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a
project or in a business venture. It involves specifying the objective of
the business venture or project and identifying the internal and
external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieving that
objective.

The SWOT analysis provides information that is helpful in matching

the firm's resources and capabilities to the competitive environment in
which it operates. it is instrumental in strategy formulation and
selection.

SWOT Analysis Framework

Environmental Scan
/ \
Internal Analysis External Analysis
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Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
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SWOT Matrix

Strengths

A firm's strengths are its resources and capabilities that can be used
as a basis for developing a competitive advantage. Examples of such
strengths include:

• patents
• strong brand names
• good reputation among customers
• cost advantages from proprietary know-how
• exclusive access to high grade natural resources
• favorable access to distribution networks

Weaknesses

The absence of certain strengths may be viewed as a weakness. For

example, each of the following may be considered weaknesses:

• lack of patent protection

• a weak brand name
• poor reputation among customers
 • high cost structure
• lack of access to the best natural resources
• lack of access to key distribution channels

In some cases, a weakness may be the flip side of a strength.

Take the case in which a firm has a large amount of
manufacturing capacity. While this capacity may be
considered a strength that competitors do not share, it also
may be a considered a weakness if the large investment in
manufacturing capacity prevents the firm from reacting
quickly to changes in the strategic environment.

Opportunities
The external environmental analysis may reveal certain new
opportunities for profit and growth. Some examples of such
opportunities include:

• an unfulfilled customer need

• arrival of new technologies
• loosening of regulations
• removal of international trade barriers

Threats
Changes in the external environmental also may present threats to
the firm. Some examples of such threats include:

• shifts in consumer tastes away from the firm's products

• emergence of substitute products
• new regulations
• increased trade barriers

SWOT / TOWS Matrix

Strengths Weaknesses
 Opportunities S-O strategies W-O strategies

Threats S-T strategies W-T strategies

• S-O strategies pursue opportunities that are a good fit to the

company's strengths.
• W-O strategies overcome weaknesses to pursue opportunities.
• S-T strategies identify ways that the firm can use its strengths
to reduce its vulnerability to external threats.
• W-T strategies establish a defensive plan to prevent the firm's
weaknesses from making it highly susceptible to external
threats.

Strengths:
We have 40 members and get subs from them.
Being small means we can adapt our programme each year to
meet our member’s requests.
We have a simple budget process and decisions are made by a
team of four. We meet every two weeks so we can deal with matters
efficiently.
People like us and we are a friendly group.
We are small enough that we don’t have big overheads so we give
value for the subs.

Weaknesses:
We are too small to be represented on Union Council.
We only have a few people on the committee so they have to
work very hard to do the minimum.
We tend to do the same things each year in the same way.
When Jim was ill last year we didn’t have back-up, in other words we
don’t have extra people with time to cover if someone is off.
 People don’t always pay promptly so we have cash
issues
Opportunities:
We have room to grow, we would benefit from recruiting more
members.
More members and a bigger organising committee could
do more events and thereby build the group.
More members mean larger budgets, more options for
activities.
Threats:
If we change the way we do things too much the current group may
leave.
Some members say they like the small friendly nature of
the group.