SWOT/OTSW Strategic

Planning Process (1)

Factors Internal

Strength Weaknes
s s

Opportu
Threats
Factors External nities
Brainstorming Questions
■ What opportunities exist in our external
environment?
■ What threats to the individual exist in the
external environment?
■ What are the strengths of the individual?
■ What are the weaknesses of the individual?
 SWOT Facilitator
■ One who contributes structure and
process to interactions so groups are able
to function effectively and make high-
quality decisions.
■ A helper and enabler whose goal is to
support others as they achieve
exceptional performance"
The Facilitator's Role
■ Supports everyone to do their best
thinking.
■ Encourages full participation, promotes
mutual understanding and cultivates
shared responsibility.
■ This enables group members to search
for inclusive solutions and build
sustainable agreements.
 SWOT Analysis

■ S – Strengths
■ W – Weaknesses
■ O – Opportunities-
■ T – Threats
 SWOT: Internal Factors
■ Strengths
■ Positive tangible and
intangible attributes,
internal to an
individual
■ They are within the
individual’s control.
Strengths
■ What do you do particularly well?
■ What do you do that is unique in the
“class”
■ What do your friends/parents/faculty
ask for you to do over and over again?
■ What do you have the right
tools/resources to accomplish?
 Weaknesses
■ Weaknesses
■ Factors that are within
an individual's control
that detract his ability
to attain the core goal.
■ Which areas might he
need to improve?
 SWOT: External Factors
Opportunities
■ External attractive factors that represent the
reason for an individual to exist and develop.
■ What opportunities exist in the environment,
which will propel the individual?
■ Identify them by their “time frames”
 Opportunities
■ Are there new situations coming down the road
that you can take advantage of (new programs
being offered, new faculty joining the department,
new tools available to you)?

■ Are there gaps within the individual that can be

filled?

■ Are there partnerships that might be fruitful?

 SWOT: External Factors
Threats
■ External factors, beyond an individual’s control,
which could place the individual mission or operation
at risk.
■ The individual may benefit by having contingency
plans to address them if they should occur.
■ Classify them by their “seriousness” and “probability
of occurrence”.
Threats
■ Who is your competition and what do
they offer that you can’t do as well or at
all?
■ Are there “environmental” changes or
situations that could cause problems for
you and your programs?
■ What other roadblocks are being
thrown in your path?
 Simple Rules SWOT Analysis
■ Be realistic about the strengths and
weaknesses of you or group

■ Distinguish between where your group is

today, and where it could be in the future

■ Be specific: Avoid grey areas.

 Simple Rules SWOT Analysis
■ Always analyze in relation to your core
values, mission, mandate, goals, vision.
■ Keep your SWOT short and simple.
■ Avoid complexity and over analysis
■ Empower SWOT with a logical
conceptual framework.
SWOT (OTSW) MATRIX
Opportunities-external Threats-external

1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.

Strengths-Internal Weaknesses-Internal
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
Create a Plan of Action
■ Set goals and objectives, like with any
other plan. Limit 3-5
■ What steps can you take to:
■ Capitalize on your strengths
■ Overcome or minimize your weaknesses
■ Take advantage of some new opportunities
■ Respond to the threat