Issue 15: Decision-Making with the SWOT Analysis

"Strengths do not come from physical capacity. They come from an indomitable will."

-Mahatma Gandhi

Welcome to our our fifteenth edition!

This issue introduces the SWOT Analysis for strategic decision-making, a technique to identify Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats related to a business decision or project.

5-MINUTE STRATEGY

• Draw a SWOT Analysis matrix.

• Strengths - What are you doing well? What sets you apart? What are your good qualities?

• Weaknesses - Where do you need to improve? Are resources adequate? What do others do better than you?

• Opportunities - What are your goals? Are demands shifting? How can it be improved?

• Threats - What are the blockers you're facing? What are factors outside of your control?

• List your project's or decision's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats in their respective quadrants, addressing the sample questions in the image above.

• Analyze how you can use your strengths to seize opportunities and counter threats. Consider how to mitigate weaknesses.

• Decide your next steps based on this analysis.

Why this matters: SWOT Analysis provides a clear framework for evaluating a situation from multiple perspectives, helping you make more informed decisions.

Next week's preview

Next, we’ll introduce the Decision Matrix method, a quantitative approach to making complex decisions. This framework helps you break down your options and assess them against various criteria to ensure you make the best choice.

Until then,

Asia