Swot Analysis

Week 1 Assignment

Jennifer Ball

BUS 610 – Organizational Behavior

Prof. Murad Abel

August 5, 2013

One of the key skills of a strategic analyst is in understanding which analytical tools or techniques are most appropriate to the objectives of the analysis. I believe the top 3 tools any company can use to better their financial standing would be: SWOT analysis, Pest Analysis and Porters Five Forces analysis.

A SWOT analysis is a simple but widely used tool that helps in understanding the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats involved in a project or business activity.

It starts by defining the objective of the project or business activity and identifies the internal and external factors that are important to achieving that objective. Strengths and weaknesses are usually internal to the organization, while opportunities and threats are usually external. Often these are plotted on a simple 2x2 matrix.

Strengths

• What does your organization do better than others?

• What are your unique selling points?

• What do you competitors and customers in your market perceive as your strengths?

• What is your organizations competitive edge?

Opportunities

• What political, economic, social-cultural, or technology (PEST) changes are taking place that could be favorable to you?

• Where are there currently gaps in the market or unfulfilled demand?

• What new innovation could your organization bring to the market?

Weakness

• What do other organizations do better than you?

• What elements of your business add little or no value?

• What do competitors and customers in your market perceive as your weakness?

Threats

• What political, economic, social-cultural, or technology (PEST) changes are taking place that could be unfavorable to you?

• What restraints to you face?

• What is your competition doing that could negatively impact...