SWOT Analysis Paper Structure

Analyze the internal and external environments of the organization along the following terms:

Section I: • Write a company history, including a mission statement if

available. Section II:

• Thoroughly explain at least two major strengths and two major weaknesses of the organization. For each strength, discuss why it can be considered a distinctive competence for the organization. For each weakness, discuss what the organization could do to minimize it. You should have a minimum of a full paragraph for the discussion of each strength and weakness.

• For each strength and weakness, ensure you use relevant business theories, concepts, and practices that are aligned to support the statements and findings. Note that bullet points are not acceptable.

• Select any five relevant financial ratios that would be appropriate to the analysis. If you are unable to get specific financial statement information then you can work with other appropriate financial information that you are able to obtain such as information from a divisional budget. There are plenty of websites that provide information on financial ratios and the following are two examples. If these links are not working, you can still search using the key words “financial ratios” and that should take you to websites that provide this information:

https://www.accountingverse.com/managerial-accounting/fs-analysis/ financial-ratios.html  (Links to an external site.) .

https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0910/6-basic-financial- ratios-and-what-they-tell-you.aspx  (Links to an external site.)

• Discuss how the financial ratios can be applied to the SWOT analysis. Do these ratios show strengths? Is the organization struggling financially? Are there financial opportunities?

Section III: • Thoroughly research and analyze two opportunities and two

threats that this organization is facing. Each of these opportunities and threats must come from a force or forces occurring within a dimension of the general environment within the organization’s external environment (keep in mind an opportunity or threat can stem from more than one dimension within the general environment). Be sure to include in your discussion the relevant dimension of the general environment from which each of these forces is derived.

• Include in your analysis an explanation of how each of the opportunities and threats will likely impact the company and why. Include other companies or industries which may also be affected. Include a TOWS analysis and be ready to make recommendations and suggestions as though you were the manager. A TOWS analysis involves the same basic process of listing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, but with a TOWS analysis, threats and opportunities are examined first and weaknesses and strengths are examined last. After creating a list of threats, opportunities, weaknesses and strengths, managers examine ways the company can take advantage of opportunities and minimize threats by exploiting strengths and overcoming weaknesses. You should have a minimum of a full paragraph for the discussion of each opportunity and threat.

• For each opportunity and threat, ensure you use relevant business theories, concepts, and practices that are aligned to support the statements and findings. Note that bullet points are not acceptable.

Section IV: • Summarize your SWOT analysis by discussing how the

organization can capitalize on the opportunities presented in the analysis along with ways it can limit or neutralize identified threats before they happen. Some questions that you will want to consider when summarizing your SWOT are:

• Opportunities: ◦ What opportunities exist in your market or the environment

that you can benefit from? ◦ Is the perception of your business positive? ◦ Has there been recent market growth or other changes in

the market that create an opportunity? ◦ Is the opportunity ongoing, or is there just a window for it?

In other words, how critical is your timing? • Threats:

◦ Who are your existing or potential competitors? ◦ What factors beyond your control could place your

business at risk? ◦ Are there challenges created by an unfavorable trend or

development that may lead to deteriorating revenues or profits?

◦ What situations might threaten your marketing efforts? ◦ Has there been a significant change in supplier prices or

the availability of raw materials? ◦ Have there been shifts in consumer behavior, the economy,

or government regulations that could reduce your sales? ◦ Has a new product or technology been introduced that

makes your products, equipment, or services obsolete?

• Discuss how the organization can capitalize on the opportunities that are occurring from the dimensions from within the general environment. How can the organization neutralize the threats

that are occurring from the dimensions from within the general environment?

• Ensure you use relevant business theories, concepts, and practices that are aligned to support the statements and findings. Note that bullets points are not acceptable.

Paper Format: • Include correctly formatted parenthetical citations and a

reference list, following APA guidelines. You must have a minimum of three external research sources.

• Be sure to check for correct spelling, grammar, and organization. • Your paper should be a minimum of 1000 words.