Tips &
SWOC Analysis Facts
Sheet
What is a SWOC?
SWOC stands for
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges.*
Why is a SWOC analysis important?
A SWOC analysis is a simple yet powerful way to look at the present
situation and help you identify your comparative advantages and
possible ways to improve performance. SWOC analysis is a powerful
tool to analyze your situation
How do I do a SWOC analysis? and identify opportunities.
Draw four quadrates and label each quadrate - as in the figure below.
Set ground rules – encourage people to think broadly. Do not criticize others ideas.
Use questions (like those included below) to guide discussion and brainstorm ideas.
(No need to put the questions in the squares.) Capture ideas below each heading.
Strengths Weaknesses
Strengths are what you do well. Be realistic. These are internal
Consider weaknesses in terms of how you and
• What do you do better than others? others perceive your weaknesses?
• What advantages does your Be realistic. Address unpleasant realities now
organization have? and build for the future.
• What do others see as your strengths?
• What can be improved?
• Is there anything you would like to do
better – that is not strong now?
• What do others see as your weaknesses?
Opportunities Challenges
Where are the promising opportunities? These are primarily external
Honest analysis will be beneficial to help identify
• What are the changes that you can what needs to be done, and to put problems into
make use of? (e.g., Changes in perspective.
technology or client needs)
• What are the external obstacles?
• Who do you have to compete with?
• Is the external environment changing (e.g.,
politics, financing)?
• Could any weaknesses threaten your
future?
* Sometimes a “T” (“Threat”) instead of “C” is used – giving SWOT.
Originally prepared by MA Bell, D Shires and P Marcotte
2012
Copyright © UC Regents Davis campus, 2012. All Rights Reserved.
Modified and used with permission by the USAID/MEAS Project.
For more information visit: http://ip.ucdavis.edu
SWOC Analysis Facts
Sheet
What is a SWOC?
SWOC stands for
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges.*
Why is a SWOC analysis important?
A SWOC analysis is a simple yet powerful way to look at the present
situation and help you identify your comparative advantages and
possible ways to improve performance. SWOC analysis is a powerful
tool to analyze your situation
How do I do a SWOC analysis? and identify opportunities.
Draw four quadrates and label each quadrate - as in the figure below.
Set ground rules – encourage people to think broadly. Do not criticize others ideas.
Use questions (like those included below) to guide discussion and brainstorm ideas.
(No need to put the questions in the squares.) Capture ideas below each heading.
Strengths Weaknesses
Strengths are what you do well. Be realistic. These are internal
Consider weaknesses in terms of how you and
• What do you do better than others? others perceive your weaknesses?
• What advantages does your Be realistic. Address unpleasant realities now
organization have? and build for the future.
• What do others see as your strengths?
• What can be improved?
• Is there anything you would like to do
better – that is not strong now?
• What do others see as your weaknesses?
Opportunities Challenges
Where are the promising opportunities? These are primarily external
Honest analysis will be beneficial to help identify
• What are the changes that you can what needs to be done, and to put problems into
make use of? (e.g., Changes in perspective.
technology or client needs)
• What are the external obstacles?
• Who do you have to compete with?
• Is the external environment changing (e.g.,
politics, financing)?
• Could any weaknesses threaten your
future?
* Sometimes a “T” (“Threat”) instead of “C” is used – giving SWOT.
Originally prepared by MA Bell, D Shires and P Marcotte
2012
Copyright © UC Regents Davis campus, 2012. All Rights Reserved.
Modified and used with permission by the USAID/MEAS Project.
For more information visit: http://ip.ucdavis.edu
