For an organisation with which you are familiar, you are required to:

1. Review critically the relevance and effectiveness of its present strategy.

2. Itemise the internal Strengths and Weaknesses of your chosen organisation together with its external Opportunities and Threats. If necessary adopt a brainstorming approach in order to consider every possible factor but then ensure you produce a succinct list of well-reasoned crucial points.

3. Specify how these strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats relate to organisational performance and effectiveness.

4. Highlight major areas of strategic concern, suggested priorities and time scales for action.

Discussion

■ How does the SWOT analysis relate to the organisation’s present strategy and structure?

■ To what extent did your analysis draw attention to important strategic features that you might otherwise have overlooked?

■ What is your critical opinion about the benefits of a SWOT analysis?