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Performing SWOT Analysis

Kishore (November 2002)

I have a personal habit of performing SWOT analysis once a year. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

Objectives of SWOT Analysis:

 To become aware of strengths, weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats and  Help in decision making:

-         How to leverage Strengths?

-         How to increase number of strengths?

-         What are the opportunities and how to pursue them?

-         How to overcome weaknesses?

-         What are the upcoming threats? What can be done to avoid them?

Application to Personal life

Performing SWOT analysis in personal life can make us aware of our own strengths which we need to use in our work and personal life. Are we using our skills effectively. This helps us to look for opportunities where we can use our strengths to contribute better. 

Weaknesses make us aware of areas of improvement. We are aware that we are not perfect. It helps us to perform introspection and look at ourselves critically. Very rarely in our life we take a look at weaknesses. This provides an opportunity to do that.

Opportunities are things we can do to realize our potential. Things we can do and go beyond our regular duties and responsibilities. Things that make us feel proud later in our life. 

Threats are danger signs to watch for and plan for prevention of them. Taking steps to ensure that threats do not materialize. 

Application to Business

Obviously this kind of analysis for a business has larger use. Without getting complacent, every business organization should make an analysis and continue to grow, improve their business.

A Sample Personal SWOT Analysis from my own experience

Strengths

Weaknesses

Testing Skills
Time Management Skills
Project Management Skills
Web development skills
Family relations 
Writing skills
Personal homepage
Book Reading 
Book Collection
Spiritual Interest		 Oral communication/Presentation skills
Lack of focus
Getting too much busy with work

Opportunities

Threats

Writing a book
Serving as a volunteer
Share experiences through homepage		 Ill health

 

A sample Business SWOT Analysis  

Strengths

Weaknesses

e-business development experience
Existing Infrastructure
Existing Customers
Technical Skills
Experienced People
Customer Service Experience 
Office across country
Business Contacts/Personal Contacts
Hardworking Team
Quality of work

Project Management
Sales/Marketing (Getting new customers)
Lack of References from existing customers (?)
Quality of work

 

Opportunities

Threats

New Partnerships
Business Opportunities in other countries
Existing customer base of Indian Blitz

Low Cash Flow
Weak Economy
New Competition

Once such analysis is available a business organization can compare its current performance and see what can be done and make improvements.

Summary

Performing SWOT analysis does not take lot of time. It is worthwhile to do this once a year or when needed. This provides an opportunity for introspection. Either in Business or personal life, SWOT analysis can make us take decisions to change our life by making us aware of our capability and potential. 

If you liked this article and worked on a similar model, share your SWOT Analysis example by sending email to me at cskishore at cskishore.com