SWOT Analysis An examination of an enterprise’s internal; S trengths - attributes of the organization that are helpful to achieving the objectives. S trengths - attributes of the organization that are helpful to achieving the objectives. W eaknesses - attributes of the organization that are harmful to achieving the objectives. W eaknesses - attributes of the organization that are harmful to achieving the objectives. O pportunities - external conditions that are helpful to achieving the objectives. O pportunities - external conditions that are helpful to achieving the objectives. T hreats - external conditions which could do damage to the business's performance. T hreats - external conditions which could do damage to the business's performance. In its external environment

This means taking a long hard look at a number of factors; Who are our customers and what do they want? Who are our customers and what do they want? How strong are our relationships with them? How strong are our relationships with them? What is the growth potential and quality of our products/services? What is the growth potential and quality of our products/services? How do we rate our current employees skills, flexibility and potential? How do we rate our current employees skills, flexibility and potential?

This means taking a long hard look at a number of factors (cont); In what condition is our equipment and operating systems in regard to age and future performance and in relation to our competitors? In what condition is our equipment and operating systems in regard to age and future performance and in relation to our competitors? How stable is our financial situation, and our relationship with our debtors and creditors? How stable is our financial situation, and our relationship with our debtors and creditors? What is our external environment like in regards to What is our external environment like in regards to Technological Technological Political Political Consumer trends Consumer trends

A SWOT carried out by an individual manager could look like this: StrengthsWeaknesses Enthusiasm, Enthusiasm, energy, energy, imagination, imagination, expertise in subject area, expertise in subject area, excellent track record in specialized area. excellent track record in specialized area. Not good at achieving results through undirected use of personal energies, Not good at achieving results through undirected use of personal energies, trouble at expressing themselves orally and on paper – may have ideas but these come over as incoherent, trouble at expressing themselves orally and on paper – may have ideas but these come over as incoherent, management experience and expertise limited management experience and expertise limited

OpportunitiesThreats More general management More general management opportunities requiring development of new managers opportunities requiring development of new managers De-centralisation having the effect of removing departments where the individual is employed De-centralisation having the effect of removing departments where the individual is employed eliminating middle management layers to form flatter structure of organization eliminating middle management layers to form flatter structure of organization

Pest analysis P olitical factors include areas such as tax policy, employment laws, environmental regulations, trade restrictions and tariffs and political stability. P olitical factors include areas such as tax policy, employment laws, environmental regulations, trade restrictions and tariffs and political stability. E conomic factors are economic growth, interest rates, exchange rates and inflation rate. E conomic factors are economic growth, interest rates, exchange rates and inflation rate.economic growthinterest rates exchange ratesinflation rateeconomic growthinterest rates exchange ratesinflation rate S ocial factors often look at the cultural aspects and include health consciousness, population growth rate, age distribution, career attitudes and emphasis on safety. S ocial factors often look at the cultural aspects and include health consciousness, population growth rate, age distribution, career attitudes and emphasis on safety. T echnological factors include ecological and environmental aspects and can determine barriers to entry, minimum efficient production level and influence T echnological factors include ecological and environmental aspects and can determine barriers to entry, minimum efficient production level and influencebarriers to entrybarriers to entry