Search the web for information about SWOT analysis Notice th

Search the web for information about SWOT analysis. Notice that there is a wide range of contexts in which SWOT analysis can be applied. Discuss if SWOT methodology is generic. Discuss its applicability to personal career advancement and investment guidance as it is to enterprise threat assessment and corporate marketing strategy.

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Solution

Swot Analysis:

Swot Analysis or Swot Matrix is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It is a structured planning method evaluating all those 4 elements with regard to project OR any business. This can also be carried out on individuals, industry as a whole, place or a company.

Swot Analysis is credited to Albert Humphrey, who led a convention at the Stanford Research Institute in 70s using data from Fortune 500 companies. However, Humphrey himself did not claim the creation of SWOT, and the origins remain obscure.

Identification of SWOTs is important because they can inform later steps in planning to achieve the objective.

SWOT for Personality Development:
Success in life if we use our talents to the fullest extent. Also, if we know and accept our weaknesses we will suffer less.
So how to identify these strengths and weaknesses, and analyze the opportunities and threats that flow from them.
SWOT Analysis is a useful technique here.

(a) Strengths:
Answering these questions will help us to analyze.
- What do you do better than anyone else?
- What personal resources can you access?
- What advantages do you have that others don\'t have (for example, skills, certifications, education, or connections)?
- What values do you believe in that others fail to exhibit?
- Which of your achievements are you most proud of?

Without being modest or shy and been as objective as possible, try to answer these questions and from the point of people around you. Knowing and using your strengths can make you happier and more fulfilled at work.

(b) Weakness:
Again, consider this from a personal/internal perspective and an external perspective. Do other people see weaknesses that you don\'t see? Do co-workers consistently outperform you in key areas? Be realistic – it\'s best to face any unpleasant truths as soon as possible.
- Are you completely confident in your education and skills training? If not, where are you weakest?
- What will the people around you see as your weaknesses?
- What tasks do you usually avoid because you don\'t feel confident doing them?
- What are your negative work habits (for example, are you often late, are you disorganized, do you have a short temper, or are you poor at handling stress)?
- Do you have personality traits that hold you back in your field? For instance, if you have to conduct meetings on a regular basis, a fear of public speaking would be a major weakness.

(c) Opportunities:
- Is your industry growing? If so, how can you take advantage of the current market?
- What new technology can help you? Or can you get help from others or from people via the Internet?
- Do you have a network of strategic contacts to help you, or offer good advice?
- Are any of your competitors failing to do something important? If so, can you take advantage of their mistakes?
- What trends (management or otherwise) do you see in your company, and how can you take advantage of them?
- Is there a need in your company or industry that no one is filling?
- Do your customers or vendors complain about something in your company? If so, could you create an opportunity by offering a solution?

importantly, look at your strengths, and ask yourself whether these open up any opportunities – and look at your weaknesses, and ask yourself whether you could open up opportunities by eliminating those weaknesses

(d) Threats:
- Are any of your colleagues competing with you for projects or roles?
- Is your job (or the demand for the things you do) changing?
- What obstacles do you currently face at work?
- Could any of your weaknesses lead to threats?
- Does changing technology threaten your position?

Answering these questions, will provide key information – it can point out what needs to be done and put problems into perspective.

SWOT Analysis for Investments:
Making any investment decisions about a company, you should carefully analyze these points. As such, here are different aspects to consider when making an investment in an individual company.
(a) Strengths:
The strengths of the company we are investing in is a big deal. Leveraging their strengths is what has made them successful over the years for many companies. It is rare there isn\'t a competitor for many companies. Google is a prime example.

Points to consider before investing:
- Margins (reflection of operations, product, etc.)
- Products or Services (superior, patent protected, quality, speed, etc.)
- Customers (loyal customer base, need vs. want)
- Management (or people, employees, research, etc.)

(b) Weakness:
Weaknesses will tell the potential downfalls.
Potential weaknesses to consider:
- Financial strength
- Management/People
- Continued Innovation
- Product liability

(c) Opportunities:
This can be a hard one for individual investors to figure out. It basically means what opportunities does this company have to grow further, or otherwise increase profitability for shareholders.

common opportunities to think about:
- Macro-Economic Trends (Resource scarcity: for example oil)
- Internal Growth Opportunities (New markets, new product)
- External Growth Opportunities (Mergers and Acquisitions)
- Social Trends (Social networking, the cloud, what\'s next?)

(d) Threats:
Every investor needs to look at direct threats to their investments. This is more than just the weaknesses of the company – these are direct impact items that everyone needs to pay attention to.

Some common threats include:
- Government Legislation.
- Litigation
- Direct Competition,
- Financial Statements.