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SWOT analysis diagram

While getting familiar with the SWOT analysis you probably found out that it is presented in a form of a diagram, where subsequent strong and weak sides, opportunities and threats are written down in four fields. It is probable that it was enough for somebody, so it was not translated into a strategy. In my opinion, it lowers the value of the analysis, but it can also be useful, if you approach it scrupulously and conscientiously.

After performing the SWOT analysis in its simplest versions, we obtain four lists:

  • a list of strong sides of an organization;
  • a list of weak sides of an organization;
  • a list of opportunities in the business environment;
  • a list of threats in the business environment.

These lists are limited to the most important strong and weak sides, opportunities and threats. Each factor should be carefully defined, because they may be understood in various manner, and a person reading such SWOT analysis will not know what the had in his mind. They can be described in the following manner:

Strengths:

1. Name of the strong side 1
Description …………………….

2. Name of the strong side 2
Description …………………….

3. …………………….

Weaknesses:

1. Name of the weak side 1
Description …………………….

2. Name of the weak side 2
Description …………………….

3. …………………….

Opportunities:

1. Name of the opportunity 1
Description …………………….

2. Name of the opportunity 1
Description …………………….

3. …………………….

Threats:

1. Name of the threat 1
Description …………………….

2. Name of the threat 2
Description …………………….

3. …………………….

When you already have a properly structure list, you are sure that the factors that you selected are of high significance for the organization, you can present them in a graphic form. Sometimes, during various workshops, a similar diagram is used to point strong and weak sides, opportunities and threats. However, if you are content with it, and afterwards you will not perform a careful evaluation (such as that presented in previous articles), it will not have much sense, and certainly it is not worth to determine a strategy on such basis.

Fortunately, you have taken all the steps described previously, so you may place the factors you identified into the matrix (diagram), and be sure that these are of basic significance for your organization.

Positive Negative
Internal
Strengths:
…………………….
…………………….
…………………….
Weaknesses:
…………………….
…………………….
…………………….
External
Opportunities:
…………………….
…………………….
…………………….
Threats:
…………………….
…………………….
…………………….

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Analiza SWOT TOWS. Wybór strategii (EBOOK)