SWOT and Pest analysis templates
Swot
strengths
• Advantages of proposition?
• Capabilities?
• Competitive advantages?
• USP's (unique selling points)?
• Resources, Assets, People?
• Experience, knowledge, data?
• Financial reserves, likely returns?
• Marketing - reach, distribution, awareness?
• Innovative aspects?
• Location and geographical?
• Price, value, quality?
• Accreditations, qualifications, certifications?
• Processes, systems, IT, communications?
• Cultural, attitudinal, behavioural?
• Management cover, succession?
weaknesses
• Disadvantages of proposition?
• Gaps in capabilities?
• Lack of competitive strength?
• Reputation, presence and reach?
• Financials?
• Own known vulnerabilities?
• Timescales, deadlines and pressures?
• Cashflow, start-up cash-drain?
• Continuity, supply chain robustness?
• Effects on core activities, distraction?
• Reliability of data, plan predictability?
• Morale, commitment, leadership?
• Accreditations, etc?
• Processes and systems, etc?
• Management cover, succession?
opportunities
• Market developments?
• Competitors' vulnerabilities?
• Industry or lifestyle trends?
• Technology development and innovation?
• Global influences?
• New markets, vertical, horizontal?
• Niche target markets?
• Geographical, export, import?
• Market need for new USP's?
• Market response to tactics, e.g., surprise?
• Major contracts, tenders?
• Business and product development?
• Information and research?
• Partnerships, agencies, distribution?
• Market volume demand trends?
• Seasonal, weather, fashion influences?
threats
• Political effects?
• Legislative effects?
• Environmental effects?
• IT developments?
• Competitor intentions - various?
• Market demand?
• New technologies, services, ideas?
• Vital contracts and partners?
• Obstacles faced?
• Insurmountable weaknesses?
• Employment market?
• Financial and credit pressures?
• Economy - home, abroad?
• Seasonality, weather effects?
p
political
• ecological/environmental issues
• current legislation home market
• future legislation
• international legislation
• regulatory bodies and processes
• government policies
• government term and change
• trading policies
• funding, grants and initiatives
• home market lobbying/pressure groups
• international pressure groups
• wars and conflicts
social
• lifestyle trends
• demographics
• consumer attitudes and opinions
• media views
• law changes affecting social factors
• brand, company, technology image
• consumer buying patterns
• fashion and role models
• major events and influences
• buying access and trends
• ethnic/religious factors
• advertising and publicity
• ethical issues
economic
• home economy situation
• home economy trends
• overseas economies and trends
• general taxation issues
• taxation specific to product/services
• seasonality/weather issues
• market and trade cycles
• specific industry factors
• market routes and distribution trends
• customer/end-user drivers
• interest and exchange rates
• international trade/monetary issues
technological
• competing technology development
• research funding
• associated/dependent technologies
• replacement technology/solutions
• maturity of technology
• manufacturing maturity and capacity
• information and communications
• consumer buying mechanisms/technology
• technology legislation
• innovation potential
• technology access, licencing, patents
• intellectual property issues
• global communications