SWOT Analysis

This SWOT matrix diagram example was created on the base of article "An Easy Way To Jumpstart Your Strategic Plan: SWOT" by Leslie Wolf from the website of the California Digital Library, the University of California. "Strategic planning doesn’t have to be a daunting and lengthy process. The goal is really a simple one: to help you understand your world and build a road map to guide your efforts. ...
This analysis tool can help you focus your attention on the specific success factors that are right for your team.
The tool is called a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for Strengths and Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Here’s what it means:
(1) Strengths are those positive internal attributes that strengthen your business or team. You can develop plans to capitalize on those strengths.
(2) Weaknesses are those negative internal attributes that are working against your success. You can shore up those weaknesses so they don’t stop your success.
(3) Opportunities are those external conditions that can have a positive effect on your goals. These opportunities can point you in the right direction.
(4) Threats are those external conditions that can have a negative effect on your goals. These threats will affect you less if you can identify and minimize them. ...
We thought it would be helpful to show you a sample SWOT analysis for a business you can easily visualize: a small independent bookstore in a university town. The store owner brought the team together to think about how the bookstore could survive during the continuing financial downturn. After an hour of brainstorming, this is the SWOT analysis they developed." [cdlib.org/ cdlinfo/ 2010/ 09/ 29/ an-easy-way-to-jumpstart-your-strategic-plan-swot/ ]
The matrix diagram example "SWOT analysis for a small independent bookstore" was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the SWOT Analysis solution from the Management area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

This presales process flowchart example depicts the Microsoft Dynamics CRM workflow from lead to opportunity. It was redesigned from the Wikimedia Commons file: Lead to Opportunity sales flow.svg. [commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/ File:Lead_ to_ Opportunity_ sales_ flow.svg]
"Presales is a process or a set of activities normally carried out before a customer is acquired, though sometimes presales also extends into the period the product or service is delivered to the customer. ...
In a typical sales cycle the stages are:
(1) Contact.
(2) Lead / Suspect.
(3) Prospect / Opportunity.
The task of a presales person starts from the initial contact phase and often ends once the customer is acquired i.e. sale is made." [Presales. Wikipedia]
The process flowchart example "Lead to opportunity sales flow" was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the Sales Flowcharts solution from the Marketing area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

"Prioritization Matrix ... tool is used to prioritize items and describe them in terms of weighted criteria. It uses a combination of tree and matrix diagramming techniques to do a pair-wise evaluation of items and to narrow down options to the most desired or most effective. Popular applications for the Prioritization Matrix include Return-on-Investment (ROI) or Cost-Benefit analysis (Investment vs. Return), Time management Matrix (Urgency vs. Importance), etc." [Seven Management and Planning Tools. Wikipedia]
The opportunity prioritization matrix example was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the solution "Seven Management and Planning Tools" from the Management area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

This opportunity flowchart sample shows the steps involved in replacing engine oil process. The opportunity flowcharts are used in business process improvement to identify process steps which might be improved.
"Business process improvement (BPI) is a systematic approach to help an organization optimize its underlying processes to achieve more efficient results. ...
An organization is only as good as its processes. To be able to make the necessary changes in an organization, one needs to understand the key processes of the company. Rummler and Brache suggested a model for running a Process Improvement and Management project (PI&M), containing the following steps:
1. Identify the process to be improved (based on a critical business issue): The identification of key processes can be a formal or informal exercise. The management team might select processes by applying a set of criteria derived from strategic and tactical priorities, or process selection is based on obvious performance gaps. It is important is to select the process(es) which have the greatest impact on a competitive advantage or customer requirement.
2. Develop the objective(s) for the project based on the requirements of the process: The focus might be on quality improvement, productivity, cost, customer service or cycle time. The goal is however always the same; to get the key process under control.
3. Select the members of the cross-functional team: A horizontal (cross-functional) analysis is carried out by a team composed of representatives of all functions involved in the process. While a consultant or in-house staff person can do the job, the quality of the analysis and the commitment to change is far greater with a cross-functional team.
4. Document the current process by creating a flowchart or "organization map": Describe the process regarding the Organizational level, the Process level and the Job/ Performer level according to Rummler. Develop a cross-functional process map for the process.
5. Identify "disconnects" in the process: “Disconnections” are everything that inhibit the efficiency and effectiveness of the process. The identification should be categorized into the three levels: The Organizational level, the Process level and the Job/ Performer level.
6. Recommend changes (organizational, in the process or in its execution): Categorize and prioritize the main problems and possibilities, evaluate alternative solutions. Develop a cross-functional process map for the recommended process.
7. Establish process and sub-process measures: The process measures should reflect the objectives of the project.
8. Implement the improvements." [Business process improvement. Wikipedia]
The swim lane diagram example "Opportunity flowchart - Replacing engine oil" was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the Cross-Functional Flowcharts solution from the Business Processes area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.