Step 1. Chapter 5 covers several areas that can be a Strengths and/or Weaknesses for any company. Pay attention to the internal factors that can be used as a S or W in the Internal Analysis (IFAS) Guide.Download Internal Analysis (IFAS) Guide. Make notecards (or cheat sheet) that lists all the keywords and definitions for each of the internal factors.

This week, our overall goal for the teams is to complete the SWOT table. To write a strong SWOT analysis, you must come up with a list of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. You actually identify Opportunities and Threats in the EFAS discussion (and chapter 4). With this discussion forum, you will be completing the S and W of the SWOT table.

Step 2. Everyone's first post should list and explain Strengths and Weaknesses for the company under investigation. Each area can be a weakness or a strength for the company. You are to infer or deduce these from the case you read and your general business information about the company. (HINT: Strengths and Weaknesses are internal to the company. We use the industry as our basis for external analysis and opportunities/threats. For internal analysis, make sure you are specifically referring to the company itself.)

Your post might look like this (feel free to copy-paste to and fill in the blanks). Pertaining to the case you read, fill in the following:

1. Core and Distinctive Competencies: _________________________________________(S or W) __________________________________________(S or W) 2. Organizational structure: __________________________________________(S or W) __________________________________________(S or W) 3. Culture: __________________________________________(S or W) __________________________________________(S or W) 4. Value chain: __________________________________________(S or W) __________________________________________(S or W) 5. Marketing: __________________________________________(S or W) __________________________________________(S or W) 6.Financial Issues- (see financial analysis conclusion section. What are some of the W and S you identified? use those): __________________________________________(S or W) __________________________________________(S or W) __________________________________________(S or W) __________________________________________(S or W) 7. R&D __________________________________________(S or W) __________________________________________(S or W) 8. Operations __________________________________________(S or W) __________________________________________(S or W) 9. HR __________________________________________(S or W) __________________________________________(S or W) 10. IT __________________________________________(S or W) __________________________________________(S or W)