Foresight Cards > Workshops > SWOT
Creating a SWOT analysis
Purpose :
Pre crisis planning, decision making, strategy creation
Application:
Business, personal and political fields
Supporting Cards: Patterns of change
Supporting downloads:SWOT analysis – basic matrix
Method 1: Creating a SWOT analysis
Players: 2 to 12 | Duration: 30 – 120 minutes | Level: 2 (out of 5)
Steps
1. Create a SWOT matrix with the sections: “Strengths”, “Weaknesses”, “Opportunities” and “Threats” on a large piece of paper. Download the basic matrix here.
2. Select a subject that you would like to explore. Be sure to set objectives, such as: “What do we want to achieve?”. Create goals as S.M.A.R.T. as you can.
3. Scan the external environment:
– Divide the group into teams of two or three people.
– Shuffle the STEEP cards and divide them among the teams. You might like to make a pre-selection of cards if you’re short on time.
– Start by scanning the external environment. Each team selects cards that might be “Opportunities” and/or “Threats”. Position the card in the corresponding section of the SWOT matrix. When positioning a card also address the current pattern of change. Write the pattern on a post-it note and stick it next to the corresponding card. It is possible that the same card, with a different pattern of change, can be an opportunity but also a threat.
– When all cards are positioned discuss, together as a group, if it is possible to cluster cards into more general drivers of change. You might like to add a large post-it note which describes the most abstract force (but be as specific as you can).
4. Scan the internal environment:
– Redivide the group into new teams of two of three people.
– Each team identifies “Strengths” and “Weaknesses” for the subject and writes them on post-it notes and positions them on the paper.
– When all internal factors have been positioned discuss, together as a group, if it is possible to cluster cards into more general drivers of change. You might like to add a large post-it note which describes the most abstract force (but be as specific as you can).
5. Prioritize identified factors per category (S-W-O-T) by making a list. Put the most important factor on top.
6. So now you should have an overview of “Strengths”, “Weaknesses”, “Opportunities” and “Threats”. Develop and discuss possible new strategies to achieve the objective(s).
Options
– During step 3: after you have positioned the STEEP cards add forces from the meso- (transactional) environment.
– Following step 6: analyze the output of the SWOT matrix further by using a confrontation matrix.