access all areasHow To Do A SWOT Analysis
“Strategic Planning” sounds a lofty pursuit and perhaps beyond our humble capabilities. Not so with a SWOT Analysis. Learn how to do a SWOT analysis using the SWOT matrix and become an effective strategic planner today, achieving your goals.
What’s Strategic Planning Anyway?
Strategic planning is just management speak for long term future planning.
Strategic planning concerns anything that will bring results in anything
from 1 year to 5 years or beyond. It’s good management practice to raise
your head above the daily grind every now and then, and take action now to
positively affect your future.
Definition of SWOT
As with most management models, the clue is in the name.
S = Strengths
W = Weaknesses
O = Opportunities
T = Threats
The SWOT Matrix Explained
All the best management models have four quadrants, and the SWOT matrix
is no exception. You use each of the four quadrants in turn to analyze where
you are now, where you want to be, and then make an action plan to get
there.
Regardless of whether you or your team are future planning for specific
products, work, personal or any other area, the SWOT analysis process is the
same.
Step 1 – In the here and now…
List all strengths that exist now. Then in turn, list all weaknesses that
exist now. Be realistic but avoid modesty!
Step 2 – What might be…
List all opportunities that exist in the future. Opportunities are potential
future strengths. Then in turn, list all threats that exist in the future.
Threats are potential future weaknesses.
Step 3 – Plan of action…
Review your SWOT matrix with a view to creating an action plan to address
each of the four areas.
In summary;
· Strengths need to be maintained, built upon or leveraged.
· Weaknesses need to be remedied or stopped.
· Opportunities need to be prioritised and optimised.
· Threats need to be countered or minimised.
SWOT Analysis Example
Here’s one I prepared earlier…
