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S.W.O.T. (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats), is a simple, but powerful business planning tool. It can assist a co-op to concentrate on what makes it strong, position a co-op to reduce threats, and hopefully leverage unseen opportunities.
Developed in the 1970’s and popular ever since, SWOT is an extremely useful tool for strategically planning the future. It groups information into lumps so that it can be examined more closely and systematically. The goal is to isolate key issues that will later be re-examined for closer consideration.
For better or worse, SWOT is a mechanism that can deal with complex situations in a quick and dirty way. Cooperative businesses operate in a changing and dynamic world, SWOT is a technique used by managers to quickly make better informed decisions in this environment.
Contents
1 When and Why to Use SWOT?
1.1 A Few Guidelines for Successful Analysis
1.2 Examples for each category
1.2.1 Example Strengths
1.2.2 Example Weakness:
1.2.3 Example Opportunities:
1.2.4 Examples Threats:
2 For more information
3 References
When and Why to Use SWOT?
A co-op’s Board of Director’s job is to build a vision of the present and of the future which helps to inform a co-op’s implementation tactics. Ideally the Board is undertaking the planning cycle is an ongoing and annual basis. SWOT is one of many methods used to evaluate what is known and is typically undertaken before formal planning.
A Few Guidelines for Successful Analysis
Ensure the concept under examination is clearly understood
Be realistic about your organization
Be specific and avoid grey areas •
Keep it short and simple; avoid complexity and over-analysis Remember that SWOT is subjective; use as a guide and not a prescription
It is important to keep in mind that SWOT’s greatest assets are also liabilities. SWOT is great in its ease of use and simplicity; but conversely, it can be somewhat trivial, overly linear and is not the best tool for examining complex patterns or chaotic systems.
Examples for each category
Example Strengths
Specialized marketing expertise
New, innovative product or service
Location
Quality processes and procedures
Any other aspect of the co*op that adds value to its members
Some diagnostic questions:
What is done well (in sales, marketing, operations, management)?
What are the co*ops assets?
What are the core