Strategic planning for business growth
SWOT analysis example
A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis can help you understand how your business is positioned in relation to the market and your competitors.
You can use SWOT analysis for any of the following:
- brainstorming
- business planning
- strategic planning
- competitor evaluation
- marketing
- product development
- business reports
Example of a SWOT analysis
Below is an example SWOT analysis template with information and examples of what to include in each section.
Factors to assess | Strengths | Weaknesses |
---|---|---|
Internal factors | Include any information on any strengths, such as:
Examples:
| Include information on any weaknesses, such as:
|
Factors to assess | Opportunities | Threats |
External factors | You should include growth opportunities, such as:
Examples:
| You should include any potential threats to your business, eg:
Examples:
|
Advantages of a SWOT analysis
A SWOT analysis offers many benefits, including helping you to:
- understand the key issues affecting your business
- spot and deal with weaknesses
- minimise risks and deter threats
- capitalise on opportunities
- take advantage of your strengths
- develop business goals
- identify strategies for achieving your goals
A SWOT analysis is typically also low- or no cost, and relatively quick and simple to carry out.
Read about other types of strategic planning models or see our PESTLE analysis example.
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