S.W.O.T. Analyse 

 

Definition: a very widespread technique mainly in business, aims to identify and the main characteristics about the current context of the issue to be solved, to guide the next stages of the work. The analysis is based on responses to four factors: strengths (S), weaknesses (W), opportunities (O) and threads (T). As an example, there are some questions that can be asked within each of the four factors (EDRAW, 2018):

  • (S) Strengths: What are the advantages? What strength points can people see? What is unique about this project or product?
  • (W) Weaknesses: What weaknesses could be improved? What problems could be avoided? What are the factors that could damage this project? Does this project have limited resources?
  • (O) Opportunities: What are the opportunities if the project succeeded? How can strengths be turned into opportunities? Are there any changes in the context that could bring opportunities to this project?
  • (T) Threads: Are there any existing or potential competitors that could influence the project? What could put this project into risk? What problems could possibly threaten the project? Will there be any changes in the context that could damage the project?

Objectives: explore the context, identify problems, needs and opportunities, analyse and synthesize information.