The document provides an overview of SWOT analysis, a framework used to identify strategies that align an entity's resources and capabilities with its external environment. It defines strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and gives examples of each. Strengths and weaknesses refer to internal factors while opportunities and threats refer to external factors. The aim is to identify strategies that maximize strengths and opportunities, and minimize weaknesses and threats. Strategy formation involves matching specific SWOT elements to extract tactics. The analysis should be revisited regularly and revised as needed.

1. STRATEGY FORMATION USING SWOT

2. Framework Summary

3. SWOT Summary
Used to identify strategies that align, fit or match an object’s
resources and capabilities to the demands and realities of the
environment in which the object under the analysis operates in
Helps identify conversion and consonance strategies
The aim is to identify the extent to which strengths and
weaknesses are relevant to, or capable of dealing with, the
changes taking place in the business environment
Simple to understand
Versatile, adaptable and very popular

4. SWOT Summary
Can be used for companies, organisations, countries and persons
Can be used for specific scenarios, situations, products and services
SWOT analysis is really only useful if it is comparative. If it
examines strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in
relation to competitors
SWOT is credited to Albert S. Humphrey who led a research
project at the Stanford Research Institute in the 1960s and 70s

5. Definitions
Strength
A resource or capability that enables the organisation to build a
generic capability to a standard better than similar organisation
Positive tangible and intangible attributes, internal to an
organization
Weakness
A resource or capability that limits the development of a strength
A resource or capability that is underdeveloped or absent from the
organisation, relative to similar organisations

6. Examples of Strengths and Weaknesses
Management
Human Resources
Values
Mission and Vision
Strategy
Available Financial Assets
Products and Services
Public Image and Perception
Distribution Channels

7. Properties of Strengths and Weaknesses
A strength and a weakness must be compared relative to
similar organisations and found exceptional (not ordinary)
in some way to be useful
They represent an advantage or disadvantage

8. Definitions
Opportunity
Is created by changes to key environmental forces independently
of the organisation
Positive trends and changes that represent the reason for an
organization to exist and develop
Threat
Is created by changes to key environmental forces independently
of the organisation
Jeopardises the future and profitability of the organisation’s
business

9. Examples of Opportunities and Threats
Government Policies
Competitors
Technology
Political
Financial
Environmental
Market
Population
Fashion

10. Properties of Opportunities and Threats
Opportunities and Threats must exhibit a change/shift/transformation
in some way to be useful
Opportunities and Threats are the forces that the
organisation cannot directly affect

11. SWOT Structure

12. Warnings and Limitations of SWOT
Meaningless long lists
No prioritisation of items
Highly subjective
Subject to politics
Might miss out sensitive and controversial issues
Confuse symptoms with weaknesses and strategies with
opportunities
Confuse internal with external factors
Relies on brainstorming

13. SWOT Examples
Microsoft –November 2012
RFID Deployment in a Greek Public Hospital – September 2012
DOL (A Greek news and media company) - April 2012

14. Microsoft – November 2012

15. RFID Deployment in a Greek
Public Hospital - September 2012

16. DOL – April 2012

17. SWOT Tips
Ask uncomfortable questions
Don’t leave out sensitive and controversial issues
Get multiple and different perspectives
Remove unnecessary/unimportant items
Ask around for opinions and feedback
Revisit often and revise as required

18. What’s Next ?
The ultimate purpose is to extract strategies, tactics and actions
Minimize both weaknesses and threats
Maximize both the strengths and opportunities
Use your strengths to deal with threats
Minimize the weaknesses by taking advantage of the opportunities
The method (TOWS) indicates four conceptually distinct
alternative strategies, tactics and actions
In practice some of the strategies overlap, be common or
they may be pursued concurrently and in concert

19. Strategy Formation

20. Strategy Formation

21. Strategy Formation

22. Strategy Formation

23. Strategy Formation Tips
Try to match specific elements of your SWOT

24. Strategy Formation Tips
Try to match specific elements of your SWOT

25. Strategy Formation Summary

26. Strategy Formation Examples
RFID Deployment in a Greek Public Hospital – September 2012
DOL (A Greek news and media company) - April 2012

27. Maxi-Maxi Strategies for RFID Deployment

28. Maxi-Mini Strategies for RFID Deployment

29. Mini-Maxi Strategies for RFID Deployment

30. Mini-Mini Strategies for RFID Deployment

31. Maxi-Maxi Strategies for DOL

32. Maxi-Mini Strategies for DOL

33. Mini-Maxi Strategies for DOL

34. Mini-Mini Strategies for DOL

35. Revisit and Revise as Required

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info@stratinsight.gr
December 2012