SWOT
                   What is it and how can it help me? 
                                                                                         How to use It 
                   SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, 
                   Opportunities and Threats.  A SWOT analysis can                       Complete each of the quadrants in the worksheet according to 
                   be carried out for a specific project, organisation                   what you see as your or your organisation’s strengths and 
                   or even a whole sector. This analysis leads to a                      weaknesses, as well as the external opportunities and threats that 
                   richer understanding of what the idea, project or                     may help or hinder you. 
                   organisation can offer, the key weaknesses that 
                   need to be worked upon in order to succeed, and                       Here are some tips to help you further: 
                   where to bring in external partners for assistance                    Be prepared: get your facts and figures in place before you do the 
                   if needed.                                                            analysis. 
                                                                                         Be comprehensive: include all details, from the smallest ones (e.g. 
                   Completing a SWOT Analysis involves identifying                       like discussions in your team) to large ones (e.g. government 
                   and mapping the internal and external factors                         funding or local government policy) that can impact your work.
                   that are assisting or hindering you in achieving 
                   your goal. It is particularly helpful to do a SWOT                    •  Be self-critical:  this tool is there to stimulate critical reflection.  
                   Analysis before the start of a project or                             •  Be open and don't get defensive -  it is normal to have 
                   developing an idea.                                                      weaknesses as well as strengths, and to see both threats and 
                                                                                            opportunities. Sometimes talking about weaknesses or threats 
                                                                                            can even help you recognise strengths and opportunities. 
                                                                                         •  Test your analysis with others: include others.   
                                                                                         •  Use it as a guide: don’t rely on SWOT too much – it’s a guide that 
                                                                                            can help scope the way for further development.  
                                                                                         The tool is on the following page.  To add to it, you can just 
                                                                                         create a new text box from ‘Shapes’ in the relevant rectangle 
                                                                                         and type away.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                            SWOT Tool 
                                 Strengths                                                                                              Weaknesses 
                                 I.e. What do you do better than anyone else?                                                           I.e. What could you improve? 
                                 What makes you unique?                                                                                 What should you avoid? 
                                 What unique or lowest-cost resources can you draw upon that others can’t?                              What are things that users might see as weaknesses?
                                 What do people in your market see as your strengths?  
                                 Opportunities                                                                                          Threats 
                                 I.e. Do people have a need?                                                                            I.e. What challenges do you face? 
                                 Do people prefer something else?                                                                       What are your competitors doing? 
                                 Are there any changes in technology?                                                                   Is changing technology making things difficult? 
                                 Are there changes in government policy?                                                                Is there an issue with finances?