SWOT

Technique for assessing the performance, competition, risk and potential of a business, as well as
part of a business such as a product line or division, an industry, or other entity. Framework used
to evaluate a company's competitive position and to develop strategic planning.
Strengths describe what an organization excels at and what separates
it from the competition: a strong brand, loyal customer base, a strong
balance sheet, unique technology and so on.

What is your team really good at?

What do you offer people that

others can’t or don’t?
Weaknesses stop an organization from performing at its optimum level. They are
areas where the business needs to improve to remain competitive: a weak brand,
higher-than-average turnover, high levels of debt, an inadequate supply chain or
lack of capital.

What are some things that your

team is not very good at, that
others do much better?
Opportunities refer to favorable external factors that could give an
organization a competitive advantage. For example, if a country
cuts tariffs, a car manufacturer can export its cars into a new
market, increasing sales and market share.

What are some areas that your organization

could thrive in that it isn’t currently taking
advantage of?
Threats refer to factors that have the potential to harm an organization. For example, a
drought is a threat to a wheat-producing company, as it may destroy or reduce the crop
yield. Other common threats include things like rising costs for materials, increasing
competition, tight labor supply and so on.

What are some external factors—competi-

tors, consumer demand, economic condi-
tions—that could make it more difficult for
your team to succeed?
One way to map out the strategic options a company has, is by using the so called TOWS matrix
(or TOWS analysis). By combining the external environment’s opportunities and threats with the
internal organization’s strenghts and weaknesses, management can come up with four basic
strategies to follow based on the situation it is in:

Strategies that minimise Strategies that use strengths

weaknesses and avoid to minimise threats.
threats

Strategies that minimise Strategies that use

weaknesses by taking strenghts to maximise
advantage of opportunities opportunities
With your team from the “Proyecto Emprendedores” work on improving
your SWOT by providing more detailed information on each of the rubrics.
Once you have a strong SWOT of a minimun of 4 strengths, weaknesses,
oportunities and threats, develop your TOWS Matrix where you provide at
least 2 strategies for each situation.

DUE DATE: April 2nd