A SWOT Analysis, also known as a situational analysis, is a technique used by companies to evaluate the internal and external factors affecting a business organization. With this useful tool they are able to set future goals, define strategic plans and collect information about the social environment in which they operate. This strategic tool is classified by internal factors (Strengths and Weaknesses), means that the company has total control of it and external factors (Opportunities and Threats), the company cannot control it. Internal factors mean that the company has control over it and are able to decide what happens within the business. For instance: staff morale, financial reserves, leadership and management skills, the location of the business, low cost of production, differentiated products and so on. However, in the external factors the company does not have control of it and has to predict or anticipate what will happen if the environment changes which is always happening. For example: government introducing new laws that does not correlate with your firm, suppliers, competitors intention, market demand, etc. Strengths are those features of the business which allows companies to operate more effectively than its competitors. The product you sell might have the best quality and a cheaper prices than the other companies which makes your demand level increase. Despite of higher prices, one of Apple’s biggest strengths are Brand awareness and reputation.
As for external factors one of the external factors would be perhaps a new law that is given and affects directly or indirectly the business and that business needs to make some changes.
The SWOT analysis is commonly known as a tool for business analysis. Its main use is for looking at strengths and weaknesses to do with the organisation, current or future opportunities and possible internal and external threats. These can then be dealt with to make them into a positive.
SWOT analysis provides a structure for analyzing either your own strengths and weaknesses, and the opportunities and threats you face, or in a work context for analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats a business or event faces. Ideally it is one step in a process which helps you to
External influences cover a wide variety of factors, and their influence can differ between business types. These include the following:
SWOT Analysis is a simple but useful framework for analyzing your organization's strengths and weaknesses, and the opportunities and threats that the company face. It helps you focus on your strengths, minimize threats, and take the greatest possible advantage of opportunities available to you will giving you the opportunity to ward off possible threats from external sources.
These factors influence the internal environment of an organisation and they help in identifying the past and the present of the company, It also provides a frame work for reviewing strategy position and direction of the company.
External factors are those that affect business from outside the organization. There are several external factors that affect the outcome of day to day business, even for a huge corporation like Disney. Walt Disney has been known for its family entertainment for more than eight decades. It started small in the 1920s and has grown phenomenally today to a global corporation. Even a business this powerful and profitable is affected by external factors.
External environmental factors are the macro environment affecting a business; they are factors outside the company and which they have no control over (Kotler & Armstrong, n.d.) these external factors bring about impacts to the company thus a company should always be prepared to react.
A SWOT analysis is a tool used to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of an organization. A SWOT model measures what an organization can or cannot do as well as the possible opportunities and threats. This is done by taking data from the organization’s environment, analyzing the information and separating it into the internal (strengths and weaknesses) and external (opportunities and threats). When this is completed the analysis can create a plan for the organization to achieve its goals, and identify what difficulties must be overcome to attain
According to Nicole Fallon of the Business News Daily, a SWOT analysis is an analytical framework that can help any company face its greatest challenges and find its most promising new markets, by identifying the organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (2017). It allows for an extensive evaluation of the company’s internal and external resources as well as current and future threats that the company may face. This process can be a great asset in determining and exploring new initiatives, as it helps to identify areas of improvement within the organization while helping with the facilitation and implementation of new business policies. This process is crucial in refreshing the strategies and tactics of any
Internal Factors: Internal factors are the factors within the company, which affects the success and operation of business. The company can control these factors. Effective internal management is the key to the successful business.
The purpose of the situational analysis is to look at a company’s internal environment in terms of its Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities as well as Threats, this enables the company to then set objectives accordingly.
The process of SWOT analysis is a universal method widely approached in corporations to scan the internal and external environment so that companies can deploy relevant countermeasures to make improvements. It contains four elements, they are strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (Helms & Nixon, 2010).
SWOT analysis is a useful tool for understanding and decision-making for all sorts of situations in business and organization. SWOT analysis can be classified into internal and external factors affecting a company. The Strengths and Weaknesses of the SWOT analysis represent the internal factors that influence the viability of the company. While the Opportunities and Threats, on the other hand, are the external factors that may affect the company's performances. A SWOT analysis provides more understanding of the organization in relation to its internal and external environment so that manager can formulate better strategy in pursuit of its mission.