SWOT Analysis as a Strategic Planning Tool
SWOT analysis was developed in the 1970’s at the Stanford
Business School as a way for organizations to identify and
analyze the internal and external factors that impact
future success. SWOT is not a complicated technical term
it is simply an acronym that stands for Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Under a SWOT
based strategic planning system Management periodically
takes a day or two away from operating responsibilities
to analyze their company and markets in light of these four
categories of issues. This analysis produces the information
necessary to create a plan that mitigates dangers and positions
the company to reach its fullest potential. What flows from
a SWOT process is a strategic plan with defined objectives
and detail strategies for achieving those objectives.