SWOT Analysis

"The name says it: Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat. A SWOT analysis guides you to identify the positives and negatives inside your organization (S-W) and outside of it, in the external environment (O-T). Developing a full awareness of your situation can help with both strategic planning and decision-making.
The SWOT method (which is sometimes called TOWS) was originally developed for business and industry, but it is equally useful in the work of community health and development, education, and even personal growth.
SWOT is not the only assessment technique you can use, but is one with a long track record of effectiveness. The strengths of this method are its simplicity and application to a variety of levels of operation." [ctb.ku.edu/ en/ table-of-contents/ assessment/ assessing-community-needs-and-resources/ swot-analysis/ main]
The diagram example "Small business consultancy SWOT analysis matrix" 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 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.

"SWOT Analysis.
A way to identify and analyze a company's goals by assessing its strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. An advantage to SWOT analysis is that it separates internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) from external ones (opportunities and threats). This allows the company to match what it could do in theory with what is possible in reality. Another advantage is the fact that conducting SWOT analysis is straightforward if the company conducting it is honest with itself." [financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/ SWOT+Analysis]
This form template "New business opportunity SWOT analysis matrix" for the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software is included in the SWOT Analysis solution from the Management area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

"SWOT is a handy mnemonic to help corporate planners think about strategy. It stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. What are an organisation's SWOTs? How can it manage them in a way that will optimise its performance? A second four-letter acronym is sometimes brought into play here: USED. How can the Strengths be Used; the Weaknesses be Stopped, the Opportunities be Exploited; and the Threats be Defended against? ...
A SWOT analysis can be applied to different aspects of a company's business, such as its it capability or its skills. The simplicity and intuitive wholeness of the framework have helped to make it extremely popular with both corporations and governments." [economist.com/ node/ 14301503]
This form template "New business opportunity SWOT analysis matrix" for the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software is included in the SWOT Analysis solution from the Management area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

"A SWOT analysis is a subjective method used to evaluate the STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, and THREATS involved in trying to attain an objective. It involves specifying the objective and identifying the internal and external factors that are favourable and unfavourable to achieving the objective. It can be used as a business tool or on a personal level where it can help you take advantage of your talents, abilities and opportunities. It can help to clarify and summarise the key issues and opportunities facing you and thereby to set objectives and develop new strategies. It should help you to to maximise strengths and minimise weaknesses in order to take advantage of opportunities and reduce threats." [kent.ac.uk/ careers/ sk/ decisionmaking.htm]
This form template "New business opportunity SWOT analysis matrix" for the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software is included in the SWOT Analysis solution from the Management area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

"SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. SWOT analysis is a tool for analyzing the current situation both internally (strengths and weaknesses) and externally (opportunities and threats). It provides helpful baseline information for a group that wants to vision the future or analyze a problem." [educationworld.com/ a_ admin/ greatmeetings/ greatmeetings018.shtml]
This form template "New business opportunity SWOT analysis matrix" for the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software is included in the SWOT Analysis solution from the Management area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

"SWOT is a handy mnemonic to help corporate planners think about strategy. It stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. What are an organisation's SWOTs? How can it manage them in a way that will optimise its performance? A second four-letter acronym is sometimes brought into play here: USED. How can the Strengths be Used; the Weaknesses be Stopped, the Opportunities be Exploited; and the Threats be Defended against? ...
A SWOT analysis can be applied to different aspects of a company's business, such as its it capability or its skills. The simplicity and intuitive wholeness of the framework have helped to make it extremely popular with both corporations and governments." [economist.com/ node/ 14301503]
This form template "New business opportunity SWOT analysis matrix" for the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software is included in the SWOT Analysis solution 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.