SWOC PPT

— SWOC Analysis —
A Facilitation Tool for Identifying
Strategic Issues

SWOC Analysis is a process of analyzing
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and
challenges of an organization.
The SWOT Analysis was developed as a
component of the Harvard Policy Model for
strategic planning in businesses. It has been
included in the business policy course taught at
the Harvard Business School since the 1920s.

SWOC Analysis has since been expanded to address
a wide variety of purposes including assessment
and development of both for-profit and non-profit
organizations, public agencies, and communities.
SWOC Analysis for organizations can:
Help a new group to focus on developing their
mission and first important strategies,
Enable a group that has not been functioning as
effectively as they could be to refocus their efforts
and get on track,
Assist long-term organizations to periodically
renew their priorities in a systematic fashion.

Desired Outcomes
A SWOC produces documented lists of external
(future-oriented organizational opportunities
and challenges) and internal (present
organizational strengths and weaknesses)
factors.
Another important outcome of SWOC may be
the formulation of specific actions to deal with
challenges and weaknesses, build on strengths,
and take advantage of opportunities.

Benefits
An effective external and internal environmental
assessment should provide several benefits to
the organization.
Among the most important is that it will produce
information that is vital to the organization’s
survival and prosperity.
It is difficult to imagine that an organization can
be truly effective over the long haul unless it has
an intimate knowledge of its strengths and
weaknesses in relation to the opportunities and
challenges it faces.

Every organization must manage the tension
between its capacities and intentions in relation
to the opportunities and challenges it faces.
A SWOC analysis clarifies the nature of these
tensions by juxtaposing two fundamental
dimensions of existence:
Good (strengths and opportunities)
Negative (weaknesses and challenges)
as well as
Present (strengths and weaknesses)
Future (opportunities and challenges).

SWOC Group Process
The following process description is one example
of how to conduct a SWOC Analysis with a group.
Please note that there are many ways to accomplish
the same process. The technique is relatively
simple, easy to use, speedy, and productive.
The technique is particularly useful as a component
of a comprehensive strategic planning effort, as an
environmental scan or strategy development step.

In a SWOT analysis the technique focuses on these
four questions:
1. What are our major internal or present
strengths?
Internal strengths are resources or capabilities that
help an organization accomplish its mandates or
mission.
Examples: professional staff, adequate resources,
leadership, values, physical facilities, talents, linkages or
networks, history, reputation and many others.

2. What are our major internal or present
weaknesses?
Internal weaknesses are deficiencies in resources
and capabilities that hinder an organization’s
ability to accomplish its mandate or mission.
Examples: lack of effective communications,
absence of clear vision or mission, flawed organizational
structure, noncompetitive pay structure, performance
issues, board turnover, or lack of financial resources.

3. What major external or future opportunities do
we have?
External opportunities are outside factors or
situations that can affect your organization in a
favorable way.
Examples: new funding from a federal program, political
support for a potential project, a chance to modify an
outdated mandate, the global economy, changing
customer demographics and preferences, technological
changes, timing and other trends.

4. What major external or future challenges do
we face?
External challenges are outside factors or
situations that can affect your organization in a
negative way.
Examples: loss of state funding, increasing demand
for a specific service, management conflicts, the
global economy, competition, customer preferences,
technological changes, political or social trends.

After the SWAC, take your findings and ask:
What can we do to help build upon or enhance ________
strength?
What can we do to improve or overcome __________
weakness?
What can we do to take advantage of __________
opportunity?
What can we do to minimize or eliminate __________
challenge?

The strategies identified can again be prioritized or
further assessed through more detailed action planning.