Business SWOT Analysis - Threats is an Opportunity
Add an article Back to list
SWOT Analysis is an abbreviation for Strengths; Weaknesses; Opportunities and
Threats. In the application of four factors of SWOT, proper understanding of the
differences between them would bring about maximum benefits.
The Four SWOT Factors are also known as the Internal and External Factors.
The Internal factors consist of Strengths and Weaknesses, whereas the External
Factors consist of Opportunities and Threats.
In normal practice, the four SWOT factors can be clearly categorised based on
the findings. Below are some examples:-
Strengths:
1. Strong financials
2. vast customer base
3. positive cash flow
Weaknesses:
1. long delivery lead time
2. high inventory
3. inconsistent quality
Opportunities
1. export incentives
2. acceptance of middle east countries
3. Good relations with trade ministry
Threats
1. escalating of cost
2. product substitition
3. computer virus attack by year 2000
As case study: Every Threats is an Opportunity ?
Every Threats is indeed an opportunity! Take for example: Before Y2K
millennium, there was a global threat that the computer system may go burst on
the 1st day of year 2000. This Threat was clearly beyond anyones' control, and
it was inevitable. During that time, all organizations had 2 choices ie. Do
something to overcome the computer threats or do nothing and wait for the worst
to happen.
Most big and medium size organizations in Malaysia I contacted chosen to pay
a high cost to work on an "enhanced" computer system that supposedly can
overcome the computer threats. How did this Y2K threats taken as an opportunity?
In fact, those organizations who did something to the computer system took the
opportunity to upgrade or enhance their computer system to improve their
inventory system while overcome the possible computer threats.
With this example of Threats, you can actually flip the Threats the other way
round and turn it into an Opportunity.
About the Author
Dr. LM Foong, PhD writes and publishes TQM articles, ebooks, case studies, trainer manual and
other TQM Related information made available at the
Total Quality Management
