The Value and Elements of a SWOT Analysis Alissa Belinkie, Angela Wolf, Bonnie Smitheal, Grisel Rosa-Ayala, Joshua Bird, and Lourdes Higdon University of Phoenix BUS/475 Integrated Business Topics November 28, 2016 Ramzy Noel Running head: THE VALUE AND ELEMENTS OF A SWOT ANALYSIS 1 THE VALUE AND ELEMENTS OF A SWOT ANALYSIS 2 The Value and Elements of a SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis is an easy and influential way to create tactical options for a business to formulate an evaluation of its position internally and externally. Internally, the strengths and weaknesses of the business are distinguished, while externally the opportunities and threats are established to give a company a foundation to build upon for its future. The elements of a SWOT analysis allow a company to utilize its strengths, combat its weaknesses, benefit from opportunities that arise, and to prevent destructive threats. While the SWOT analysis is not a solution to the elements a company may face, it can provide a starting point for setting goals, devising strategies, and execution. Identifying the key factors from this specific evaluation is a valuable tool that affects a company’s adeptness to attain its purpose and vision while narrowing down what is significant to that particular business. SWOT Elements There are four elements of a SWOT analysis. Strengths and weaknesses are the first two and are about the internal conditions of the business, where the business is strong to where the business requires improvement. Opportunities and threats are external environmental conditions that the company may face. Each company will have its own set of potential opportunities and threats, while a factor can be an opportunity for one business it could be a threat for another. The SWOT analysis can be done in different ways depending on the business and how in depth it wants to get with the analysis. However, each analysis will always have the four basic elements (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats). Each company can decide how it wants to break it down and how much it wants to assess the business. Other elements that will be different for each company are threats and opportunities. For example, the focus on health and good eating could be an opportunity for gyms, personal trainers, health stores and more. However, the trend is a threat to tobacco companies, fast food chains, and anything else that may be perceived as “unhealthy”. Overall, the SWOT analysis can be used for any business, individual, or situation since the idea is simple. Value of a SWOT Analysis (Grisol) SWOT Analysis Purpose SWOT is an acronym that identifies four critical elements such as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The purpose of a SWOT analysis is a company’s strategic planning proves where it connects its objectives and strategies to actionable tactics carried out by employees. “SWOT analysis is a simple yet powerful framework for generating strategic alternati ...

1. The Value and Elements of a SWOT Analysis
Alissa Belinkie, Angela Wolf, Bonnie Smitheal, Grisel Rosa-
Ayala, Joshua Bird, and Lourdes Higdon
University of Phoenix
BUS/475 Integrated Business Topics
November 28, 2016
Ramzy Noel
Running head: THE VALUE AND ELEMENTS OF A SWOT
ANALYSIS
1
THE VALUE AND ELEMENTS OF A SWOT ANALYSIS
2
The Value and Elements of a SWOT Analysis
The SWOT analysis is an easy and influential way to create
tactical options for a business to formulate an evaluation of its
position internally and externally. Internally, the strengths and
weaknesses of the business are distinguished, while externally
the opportunities and threats are established to give a company
a foundation to build upon for its future. The elements of a
SWOT analysis allow a company to utilize its strengths, combat
its weaknesses, benefit from opportunities that arise, and to

2. prevent destructive threats. While the SWOT analysis is not a
solution to the elements a company may face, it can provide a
starting point for setting goals, devising strategies, and
execution. Identifying the key factors from this specific
evaluation is a valuable tool that affects a company’s adeptness
to attain its purpose and vision while narrowing down what is
significant to that particular business.
SWOT Elements
There are four elements of a SWOT analysis. Strengths and
weaknesses are the first two and are about the internal
conditions of the business, where the business is strong to
where the business requires improvement. Opportunities and
threats are external environmental conditions that the company
may face. Each company will have its own set of potential
opportunities and threats, while a factor can be an opportunity
for one business it could be a threat for another.
The SWOT analysis can be done in different ways
depending on the business and how in depth it wants to get with
the analysis. However, each analysis will always have the four
basic elements (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and
threats). Each company can decide how it wants to break it
down and how much it wants to assess the business. Other
elements that will be different for each company are threats and
opportunities. For example, the focus on health and good eating
could be an opportunity for gyms, personal trainers, health
stores and more. However, the trend is a threat to tobacco
companies, fast food chains, and anything else that may be
perceived as “unhealthy”. Overall, the SWOT analysis can be
used for any business, individual, or situation since the idea is
simple.
Value of a SWOT Analysis
(Grisol)
SWOT Analysis Purpose
SWOT is an acronym that identifies four critical elements such
as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The
purpose of a SWOT analysis is a company’s strategic planning

3. proves where it connects its objectives and strategies to
actionable tactics carried out by employees. “SWOT analysis is
a simple yet powerful framework for generating strategic
alternatives when a corporation or even a simple business unit
undertakes a situational analysis or environmental scanning
exercise” (Lumpur, 2003, para. 5). The alternative for the
SWOT could be TOWS (threats, opportunities, weaknesses, and
strengths). In the TOWS analysis, the threats and opportunities
are examined first. After examining companies can take
advantages of opportunities and minimize the threats by
exploiting strengths and overcoming weaknesses. “SWOT and
TOWS use the same factors for analysis, and the terms are
sometimes used interchangeably without regard to the order that
strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities are examined”
(Hamel, 2016, Consideration).
Advantages and Disadvantages of a SWOT Analysis
(Joshua)
Conclusion
In summary, a SWOT analysis frequently encompasses the
external analysis demonstrating the study of opportunities and
threats within the organization, and the internal analysis, also
encompassed within the SWOT, categorizes the internal
strengths and weaknesses. The SWOT analysis should offer an
outline that identifies possible strategic opportunities that may
exist for the company, how to dodge a weakness essential in the
business, and threats that come from the outer area limiting
potential future growth. It is critical to an organization that the
SWOT analysis does not pinpoint solutions. Largely, a SWOT
analysis plays a crucial role in a company’s strategic planning.
There are consulting firms that offer the assistance and have a
cognizance of the external threats, as well as offer a powerful
insight to guide a company in the best direction when launching
a new service or product. The knowledge that a company can
gain through a well prepared SWOT analysis successfully
allows it to have the competitive edge and the possibility to
bring in more revenue.

4. References
Difference Between SWOT & TOWS
Analysis. (2016). Retrieved from
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/difference-between-swot-tows-
analysis-23169.html
Hamel, G. (2016). Difference Between SWOT and TOWS
Analysis. Chron.
Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/difference-
between-swot-tows-analysis-
23169.html
Lumpur, K. (2003, April 6). SWOT Analysis a Powerful
Framework. New Straits Times.
Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/docvi
ew/266906087?accountid=35
812# center

5. The Value and Elements of a SWOT Analysis
Alissa Belinkie, Angela Wolf, Bonnie Smitheal, Grisel Rosa-
Ayala, Joshua Bird, and Lourdes Higdon
University of Phoenix
BUS/475 Integrated Business Topics
November 28, 2016
Ramzy Noel
Running head: THE VALUE AND ELEMENTS OF A SWOT
ANALYSIS
1
THE VALUE AND ELEMENTS OF A SWOT ANALYSIS
3
The Value and Elements of a SWOT Analysis
The SWOT analysis is an easy and influential way to create
tactical options for a business to formulate an evaluation of its
position internally and externally. Internally, the strengths and
weaknesses of the business are distinguished, while externally
the opportunities and threats are established to give a company
a foundation to build upon for its future. The elements of a
SWOT analysis allow a company to utilize its strengths, combat
its weaknesses, benefit from opportunities that arise, and to
prevent destructive threats. While the SWOT analysis is not a
solution to the elements a company may face, it can provide a
starting point for setting goals, devising strategies, and
execution. Identifying the key factors from this specific
evaluation is a valuable tool that affects a company’s adeptness
to attain its purpose and vision while narrowing down what is
significant to that particular business.
SWOT Elements
There are four elements of a SWOT analysis. Strengths and

6. weaknesses are the first two and are about the internal
conditions of the business, where the business is strong to
where the business requires improvement. Opportunities and
threats are external environmental conditions that the company
may face. Each company will have its own set of potential
opportunities and threats, while a factor can be an opportunity
for one business it could be a threat for another.
The SWOT analysis can be done in different ways
depending on the business and how in depth it wants to get with
the analysis. However, each analysis will always have the four
basic elements (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and
threats). Each company can decide how it wants to break it
down and how much it wants to assess the business. Other
elements that will be different for each company are threats and
opportunities. For example, the focus on health and good eating
could be an opportunity for gyms, personal trainers, health
stores and more. However, the trend is a threat to tobacco
companies, fast food chains, and anything else that may be
perceived as “unhealthy”. Overall, the SWOT analysis can be
used for any business, individual, or situation since the idea is
simple.
Value of a SWOT Analysis
(Grisol)
SWOT Analysis Purpose
SWOT is an acronym that identifies four critical elements such
as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The
purpose of a SWOT analysis is a company’s strategic planning
proves where it connects its objectives and strategies to
actionable tactics carried out by employees. “SWOT analysis is
a simple yet powerful framework for generating strategic
alternatives when a corporation or even a simple business unit
undertakes a situational analysis or environmental scanning
exercise” (Lumpur, 2003, para. 5). The alternative for the
SWOT could be TOWS (threats, opportunities, weaknesses, and
strengths). In the TOWS analysis, the threats and opportunities
are examined first. After examining companies can take

7. advantages of opportunities and minimize the threats by
exploiting strengths and overcoming weaknesses. “SWOT and
TOWS use the same factors for analysis, and the terms are
sometimes used interchangeably without regard to the order that
strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities are examined”
(Hamel, 2016, Consideration).
Advantages and Disadvantages of a SWOT Analysis
(Joshua)
Conclusion
In summary, a SWOT analysis frequently encompasses the
external analysis demonstrating the study of opportunities and
threats within the organization, and the internal analysis, also
encompassed within the SWOT, categorizes the internal
strengths and weaknesses. The SWOT analysis should offer an
outline that identifies possible strategic opportunities that may
exist for the company, how to dodge a weakness essential in the
business, and threats that come from the outer area limiting
potential future growth. It is critical to an organization that the
SWOT analysis does not pinpoint solutions. Largely, a SWOT
analysis plays a crucial role in a company’s strategic planning.
There are consulting firms that offer the assistance and have a
cognizance of the external threats, as well as offer a powerful
insight to guide a company in the best direction when launching
a new service or product. The knowledge that a company can
gain through a well prepared SWOT analysis successfully
allows it to have the competitive edge and the possibility to
bring in more revenue.

8. References
Difference Between SWOT & TOWS
Analysis. (2016). Retrieved from
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/difference-between-swot-tows-
analysis-23169.html
Hamel, G. (2016). Difference Between SWOT and TOWS
Analysis. Chron.
Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/difference-
between-swot-tows-analysis-
23169.html
Lumpur, K. (2003, April 6). SWOT Analysis a Powerful
Framework. New Straits Times.
Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/docvi
ew/266906087?accountid=35
812# center
The Value and Elements of a SWOT Analysis
Alissa Belinkie, Angela Wolf, Bonnie Smitheal, Grisol Rosa-
Ayala, Joshua Bird, and Lourdes Higdon
BUS/475 Integrated Business Topics
November 28, 2016
Ramzy Noel
Running head: THE VALUE AND ELEMENTS OF A SWOT
ANALYSIS
1

9. THE VALUE AND ELEMENTS OF A SWOT ANALYSIS
3
The Value and Elements of a SWOT Analysis
(Angela)
SWOT Elements
(Alissa)
Value of a SWOT Analysis
(Grisol)
SWOT Analysis Purpose
(Lourdes)
Advantages and Disadvantages of a SWOT Analysis
(Joshua)
Conclusion
(Bonnie)
References