Advanced SWOT analysis. - Excel Template and Power Point Guide

Excel template and PowerPoint Guide on how to make a SWOT analysis and convert your ideas into numbers.

by Rusana Shkaraban
Market Research Consultant at IntroMarket Research | Help companies to make data-driven decisionsFollow

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Description
SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis is a framework used to evaluate a company's competitive position and to develop strategic planning. SWOT analysis assesses internal and external factors, as well as current and future potential.

A typical SWOT analysis helps a person or organization to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities.

Advanced SWOT analysis and how is it different from a typical SWOT?
Based on evaluation of strengths and weaknesses (weight, rate, R*W), opportunities and threads (weight, probability, R*W), and verification of the results you may choose the possible ready-made strategy:
•Aggressive (Strength-Opportunities)
•Defensive (Weaknesses - Threats)
•Competitive (Weaknesses - Opportunities)
•Conservative (Strength - Threats)

Aggressive

If Strength - Opportunities win

This is the most favorable situation for the company. The company has a lot of strengths, and the surroundings are full of good opportunities. The company has a large potential for expansion and strong, dynamic development based on its own strengths and market opportunities. This strategy is focused on the development and expansion. Enterprises strengthen their position in the market, invest in new ventures or take over existing companies.

As part of an aggressive strategy, you can consider the following:
- capturing market opportunities
- acquisition of similar competing companies
- concentration of resources on the best products (20% of activity brings 80% of the profit)
- strengthening the market position

Defensive

If Weaknesses - Threats win

It's hard to talk about a strategy here because weaknesses predominate in the company, and the external environment is not favorable. The company is therefore in danger and there is a high risk of bankruptcy. If to talk about new ventures, one should pause or abandon them altogether. The company should try to minimize weaknesses and threats. A defensive strategy is based on enabling the company to survive. In the pessimistic scenario, the company should prepare itself for liquidation. The company tries to stay on the market by, for example: merging with another company, cutting costs or reducing production.

In a defensive strategy, you can consider the following:
- gradual withdrawal from the market before the company's liquidation
- Merges with another company
- cost reduction
- stop investing

Competitive

If Weaknesses - Opportunities win

The company is dominated by weaknesses over strengths, but there are many opportunities in the external environment. The company, although is weak, operates in a friendly environment and can successfully develop. To be able to take advantage of external opportunities, a company should first minimize its weaknesses. The strategy should be based on the overall improvement of your company, increasing capital, thanks to which it will be possible to maintain a competitive advantage.

As part of a competitive strategy, you can consider how to:
- increase company’s resources
- product improvement
- increase in productivity
- cost reduction
- maintaining and increasing competitive advantage

Conservative

If Strength - Threats win

The company is dominated by strengths and related external threats.
This strategy is associated with the lowest risk. Contrary to general understanding, it is not deprived of creativity. Success of the company need to be looked for inside it, in its potential.

As part of the conservative strategy, you can consider how to:
- acquisition of a competitor
- cost reduction
- searching for new markets
- product improvement
- product diversification

This Best Practice includes
1 Exel document with 9 tabs, PowerPoint guide with 10 slides, 1 example of ready-made SWOT analysis