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Glite Dictionary
SWOT analysis

SWOT analysis

4.0
A study that lists good points, bad points, chances to grow, and risks for a business or project
  • noun
  • /ˈswɒt əˈnælɪsɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : análisis FODA
  • The team conducted a SWOT analysis to identify potential opportunities and threats in the competitive landscape.

Examples

  • In their strategy meeting, they discussed the importance of performing a detailed SWOT analysis for the upcoming project.

  • True investors would conduct a SWOT analysis and run at least three scenarios (best, most likely, and worst).

    Blog text (3)

  • If you run a small business, chances are you've read or heard a thousand times from all the best business books, classrooms, seminars, and business coaches that in order to run a successful business you must do many of the following things: have a marketing plan, a business plan, researched competition, have completed a SWOT analysis, a system for tracking leads, a CRM program, create an employee manual, an exit strategy, and so on.

    Blog text (34)

  • Before launching her startup, she filled out a comprehensive SWOT analysis to evaluate her strengths and weaknesses.

Synonyms

situation analysis
vsSWOT analysis
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A careful study of a company's inside and outside factors to find what helps or harms its plans

focuses on identifying four specific categories strengths weaknesses opportunities and threats

How Structured

audit program
  • Specialized
4.2
SWOT matrix
  • Specialized
5.1
SWOT analysis
  • Specialized
4.0
chat
  • Informal
312 1.0

Surface Forms

SWOT analysis singular
SWOT analyses plural

Morphology

SWOT + analysis

The head 'SWOT' is an opaque acronym (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) rather than a compositional lexical item, so a B1 learner who only knows 'analysis' and sees 'SWOT' will not be able to derive the specific meaning. While 'analysis' signals a study or examination, the content indicated by the acronym is technical and must be learned explicitly, so the overall phrase is not transparently interpretable from its parts.

Etymology

SWOT analysis comes from the first letters of four words: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. People often draw four boxes and list what helps or hurts the team inside (the strengths and weaknesses) and what chances or dangers come from outside (the opportunities and threats), so the phrase now means a simple 'method' to find and compare these areas for a business or project.