SWOT Analysis Paper Structure

Analyze the internal and external environments of the organization along the following terms:

Section I:

• Write a company history, including a mission statement if available.

Section II:

• Thoroughly explain at least two major strengths and two major
  weaknesses of the organization. For each strength, discuss why it can be
  considered a distinctive competence for the organization. For each
  weakness, discuss what the organization could do to minimize it. You
  should have a minimum of a full paragraph for the discussion of each
  strength and weakness.
• For each strength and weakness, ensure you use relevant business
  theories, concepts, and practices that are aligned to support the
  statements and findings. Note that bullet points are not acceptable.

Section III:

• Thoroughly research and analyze two opportunities and two threats
  that this organization is facing. Each of these opportunities and
  threats must come from a force or forces occurring within a dimension of
  the general environment within the organization’s external environment
  (keep in mind an opportunity or threat can stem from more than one
  dimension within the general environment). Be sure to include in your
  discussion the relevant dimension of the general environment from which
  each of these forces is derived.
• Include in your analysis an explanation of how each of the
  opportunities and threats will likely impact the company and why.
  Include other companies or industries which may also be affected.
  Include a TOWS analysis and be ready to make recommendations and
  suggestions as though you were the manager. A TOWS analysis involves the
  same basic process of listing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities
  and threats, but with a TOWS analysis, threats and opportunities are
  examined first and weaknesses and strengths are examined last. After
  creating a list of threats, opportunities, weaknesses and strengths,
  managers examine ways the company can take advantage of opportunities
  and minimize threats by exploiting strengths and overcoming weaknesses.
  You should have a minimum of a full paragraph for the discussion of each
  opportunity and threat.
• For each opportunity and threat, ensure you use relevant business
  theories, concepts, and practices that are aligned to support the
  statements and findings. Note that bullet points are not acceptable.

Section IV:

• Summarize your SWOT analysis by discussing how the organization can
  capitalize on the opportunities presented in the analysis along with
  ways it can limit or neutralize identified threats before they happen.
  Some questions that you will want to consider when summarizing your SWOT
  are:
• Opportunities:
  • What opportunities exist in your market or the environment that you can benefit from?
  • Is the perception of your business positive?
  • Has there been recent market growth or other changes in the market that create an opportunity?
  • Is the opportunity ongoing, or is there just a window for it? In other words, how critical is your timing?
• Threats:
  • Who are your existing or potential competitors?
  • What factors beyond your control could place your business at risk?
  • Are there challenges created by an unfavorable trend or development that may lead to deteriorating revenues or profits?
  • What situations might threaten your marketing efforts?
  • Has there been a significant change in supplier prices or the availability of raw materials?
  • Have there been shifts in consumer behavior, the economy, or government regulations that could reduce your sales?
  • Has a new product or technology been introduced that makes your products, equipment, or services obsolete?
• Discuss how the organization can capitalize on the opportunities
  that are occurring from the dimensions from within the general
  environment. How can the organization neutralize the threats that are
  occurring from the dimensions from within the general environment?
• Ensure you use relevant business theories, concepts, and practices
  that are aligned to support the statements and findings. Note that
  bullets points are not acceptable.

Paper Format:

• Include correctly formatted parenthetical citations and a reference
  list, following APA guidelines. You must have a minimum of three
  external research sources.
• Be sure to check for correct spelling, grammar, and organization.
• Your paper should be a minimum of 1200 words.