Business organisation and environment

Table of Contents

1. Topic pack - introduction
2. 1.1 Nature of business activity - notes
3. 1.1 Nature of business activity - questions
4. 1.2 Types of organisation - notes
5. 1.2 Types of organisation - questions
6. 1.3 Organisational objectives - notes
7. 1.3 Organisational objectives - questions
8. 1.4 Stakeholders - notes
9. 1.4 Stakeholders - questions
10. 1.5 External environment - notes
11. 1.5 External environment - questions
12. 1.5 External environment - simulations and activities
13. 1.6 Organisational planning tools - notes
    1. Organisational planning tools
    2. Business plan
    3. Decision-making processes - introduction
    4. Decision-making processes
    5. Decision-making - fishbone diagram
    6. Decision trees
    7. Decision trees - worked example
    8. SWOT analysis
14. 1.6 Growth and evolution - notes
15. 1.7 Growth and evolution - questions
16. 1.7 Growth and evolution - simulations and activities
17. 1.6 Change (HL only) - notes
18. 1.9 Globalisation - notes
19. 1.9 Globalisation - questions
20. Print View

SWOT analysis

A SWOT analysis is an INTERNAL audit of where the business is at the present and how it is affected by its EXTERNALenvironment:

STRENGTHS - what the firm does well and its advantages e.g. experience

WEAKNESSES - what the firm does not do well e.g. customer service

OPPORTUNITIES - changes in external conditions, which will allow the firm to develop markets, sell more, expand and make more profits

THREATS - External factors which may stop the firm achieving its aims - CONSTRAINTS and barriers

These are summarised in the diagram below:

As seen from the diagram, SWOT analysis should be combined with STEEPLE Analysis, which will provide details of the external environment.

Why use SWOT analysis?

A SWOT analysis can support effective strategic planning based on an examination of the firm's capabilities and its external environment. A SWOT analysis is a business tool which allows the assessment of a product, division or organisation in terms of its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Its simple four box format makes it a useful visual tool to assist the planning process. The strengths and weaknesses are summary of the present position of the product, decision or organisation, whereas the opportunities and threats represent the future potential or concerns of the business.

SWOT analysis has many uses and purposes.

• It gives a good picture of the firm's actual position in the marketplace
• It is a good training tool for staff and may help create a team environment.
• It helps develop a better understanding of the firm's service level, product range and brands
• It forces the firm to examine its business and consider the present and future competition.
• It examines external influences and future changes
• It encourages an assessment of strategic opportunities, such as expansion or relocation

There are links between:

• Strengths and Opportunities, and
• Weaknesses and Threats.

For example, a firm that has a well trained and loyal workforce (strengths) will be in a good position to adapt to changes in the markets (opportunities) and to produce products and services to meet new customer needs. So firms should seek to build on their strengths to put them in a position to take advantage of new opportunities when they arise.

However, a firm which has an unmotivated workforce and poor quality services (weaknesses) may not be in a good position to compete with new suppliers in the market place (threats). The firm should seek to reduce its weaknesses to address growing threats.