Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats (SWOT)
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats (SWOT)
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2. The Facilitator asks the Participants to brainstorm all the Strengths they can see and
write each one on a single post-it and stick it in the appropriate quadrant. Or on a
flipchart if you prefer.
3. Repeat step 2 for each of the other aspects Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.
4. Once each aspect has been covered, the Facilitator asks the Participants to identify
any links , e.g. there may be a strength that links with an opportunity (good) or a
weakness that is linked to a threat (not so good).
5. On a new piece of flipchart paper create an Action Plan looking to:
Turn Weaknesses into a Strengths (e.g. something small could be redefined as being nimble instead).
Turn Threats into Opportunities.
6. Agree how the outputs are to be published to wider stakeholder groups (e.g. the
board or a project sponsor).
Questions to help stimulate your
conversation
Strengths Weaknesses
What do you know works well? What doesnt work so well?
What do you do better than others? What could you improve?
What do others outside view as your What should you stop doing?
strengths? What do others outside do badly that you
How do you achieve your success also do?
currently?
Threats
Opportunities What is your competition doing much better
What are you not doing yet but could easily than you?
see yourself doing with the right Are you lacking resources (people and/or
momentum? money) meaning your progress is inhibited?
Are there any of your strengths that could Are there any regulatory issues that could
represent a new opportunity for you? stop or hinder progress?
Are there any changes in political policy on Are any weaknesses a real threat to your
the horizon that could help you? organization / project?
Strengths Weaknesses
Opportunities Threats
Secret Sauce
Consider all possibilities this is where
brainstorming works well with this tool e.g. there
will be many INTERNAL opportunities as well as
EXTERNAL.
All statements added to the chart should be
confirmable and universally accepted to be seen as
valid.
Consider using the Prioritization Matrix if you end
up with a long list in any of the categories so you
focus on the ones most likely to have the greatest
impact.