Business Subject Guide - Boca Raton Campus

Information in a SWOT analysis is organized into internal and external factors:

1. An examination of the Strengths and Weaknesses of a company.  This is an internal look at company operations used to identify what the company does well and where it needs to improve. It focuses on the current situation.
2. An examination of the external environment in which the company operates. This means identifying industry trends and outside forces that could pose Threats or provide Opportunities for the company.  It focuses on the future.

The following are typical considerations for the internal and external factors which will affect your analysis:

Internal

• Financial resources, such as funding, sources of income and investment opportunities
• Physical resources, such as your company's location, facilities and equipment
• Human resources, such as employees, volunteers and target audiences
• Access to natural resources, trademarks, patents and copyrights
• Current processes, such as employee programs, department hierarchies and software systems

External

• Market trends, like new products and technology or shifts in audience needs
• Economic trends, such as local, national and international financial trends
• Funding, such as donations, legislature and other sources
• Demographics, such as a target audience's age, race, gender and culture
• Relationships with suppliers and partners
• Political, environmental and economic regulations

Source: Business News Daily http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/4245-swot-analysis.html

A SWOT Analysis for most major companies can be found in the following databases: