swot analysis of a company essay

– Zeeshan Akhtar , head of marketing at Mailmodo

“It's easy to fall into a groupthink because usually, SWOT analysis is conducted by management. What we did differently in this case, given the issue we wanted to tackle, was involve an external consultant as well as internal employees to get more diverse perspectives and creative solutions.”

– Zach Dannett , cofounder at Tumble

“ During a SWOT analysis, delving deep into competitors' operations to uncover their vulnerabilities can be invaluable. For instance, discovering a key competitor struggling with customer service inefficiencies through reviews and market feedback can highlight an opportunity for differentiation.”

– Harrison Tang , CEO of Spokeo

“Set priorities and focus on the most impactful areas first. Allocate resources strategically, prioritizing initiatives that promise the greatest returns.”

Arham Khan , CEO of Pixated

“ In terms of leveraging the results, businesses need to be proactive. Don't just see it as a one-time report - use it as a roadmap. Whether reinforcing strengths, addressing weaknesses or pursuing opportunities, SWOT should influence strategic planning and product roadmaps. Revisit it annually too, as situations evolve. ”

– Kelly Indah , editor-in-chief at Increditools

Ultimately, a SWOT analysis can measure and tackle both big and small challenges, from deciding whether or not to launch a new product to refining your social media strategy.

When conducting your own SWOT analysis, you may face problems like data overload, differing opinions, and actionability. I certainly did. However in my experience, these problems can be solved by:

• Focusing on the most relevant information and filtering out the noise.
• Facilitating discussions to reach an agreement or using a neutral moderator.
• Ensuring each point is specific and actionable, providing clear direction for your strategies.

I will conclude this piece by saying don‘t underestimate the power of taking a step back from time to time to assess where you’ve been, where you‘re at, and where you’re going.

I firmly believe that regularly conducting a SWOT analysis is critical for any entrepreneur looking to grow.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in May 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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Your Full Guide on How to Write a SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis is one of those tools that you'll come across in any field. For example, it's used to define a product's competitive advantage, create a strategic plan for a business, and gain insights into consumer behavior. 

But it's not just businesses that benefit from this technique. Personal SWOT analysis helps people plan their careers in the most optimal way possible, too.

As versatile as it is, SWOT analysis is not at all complicated. That's why its adoption rate is through the roof. And that's why you should learn how to take advantage of it, whether for an assignment or not.

To help you out with that, let's rely on our rich writing services experience and use it to break down in detail:

• What a SWOT analysis is;
• How it's applied in business strategies and marketing efforts;
• How to use the SWOT framework for any task;
• 4 real-world SWOT analysis examples.

What Is SWOT Analysis, Exactly?

Any SWOT analysis template contains four sections, presented in a two-by-two matrix:

• Strengths – your inherent qualities, resources, or skills that set you apart from the rest;
• Weaknesses – whatever is or may be stopping you or the business from performing well;
• Opportunities – external factors that you can use to your advantage to become more competitive;
• Threats – external factors that may harm your performance in the short or long run.

Internal and External Factors in SWOT Analysis

Each section represents a list of factors. These sections can be grouped into two broader categories: internal and external factors.

Internal factors – Strengths and Weaknesses in the first row – are inherent to you or the company. However, you can also do something about them if need be. Think of your skills as a professional if you're working on a personal SWOT analysis, for example.

External factors – Opportunities and Threats in the second row – aren't under your personal or the company's control. But they have an impact on you or the business, nonetheless. Once-in-a-lifetime pandemics, inflation, or industry trends are good examples here.

Positive vs Negative Factors

Another way to think about the SWOT matrix is by juxtaposing negative and positive factors :

• Strengths and Opportunities can help you or the company achieve your goal or succeed at a project. So, they represent positive factors.
• Weaknesses and Threats can negatively impact your progress and have to be mitigated. They're negative factors.

Why is SWOT Analysis Important?

Now that the question ‘What is a SWOT Analysis?’ is answered, you must have several others on your mind. So let's answer them one by one.

Who Should Do a SWOT Analysis?

Businesses of all sizes and in all industries can benefit from SWOT analyses. So, whether you're a prospective entrepreneur, a small business owner, or a C-level executive, this technique will be a useful arrow in your quiver.

You can also benefit from conducting a personal SWOT analysis. It would be best if you did it when looking for a job or facing a major life decision.

Why Should You Do a SWOT Analysis?

At its core, SWOT analysis is a strategic planning technique. It's meant to help you organize all the factors. That, in turn, enables you to gain key insights into where you stand and how you can move from point A to point B.

How does it help you in strategic planning, exactly? The SWOT matrix shows you:

• Which strengths you should maximize and emphasize;
• Which weaknesses you should minimize and keep at bay;
• Which opportunities you can take advantage of;
• Which threats you should look out for and counter.

All of this leads to one outcome: better, more informed decision-making. Plus, SWOT analysis is notorious for challenging your assumptions as long as everyone involved is straightforward and honest in their answers.

What Can SWOT Framework Be Used For?

Now, let's talk about real-life practical applications of this technique. Here are three SWOT analysis examples:

• Choosing the business model for a new enterprise;
• Creating a break-even analysis and a business plan;
• Analyzing the company's quarterly and annual performance.

At a personal level, you can also conduct your own SWOT analysis to:

• Increase your chances of landing a job;
• Position yourself for getting a promotion;
• Understand what needs to change in your life in general.

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How to Conduct a SWOT Analysis in 8 Steps

SWOT analysis isn't complicated to conduct, and that's why they are so popular. Yet, it might be a wrong first impression.

A good SWOT analysis can take hours and should involve multiple people in a brainstorming session. It should also be as objective as possible – which can be harder to achieve than it seems.

So, how do you use a SWOT analysis – and get a quality result for your strategic decision-making process? Here's your step-by-step SWOT analysis example that you can use as a guide. If you need a custom writing -address to professionals.

1. Determine Your Goal

Starting brainstorming without a goal means getting into the SWOT analysis blind. And your SWOT matrix will be useless – or misleading – in the long run.

For example, depending on your goal, the same factor can be a key strength or an irrelevant note. For example, if you aim to reach the 18-25 demographic in your marketing campaign, your active presence on TikTok will be a great asset. But if you need to find a way to attract more quality candidates in the hiring process, the TikTok presence will only help you a little.

So, zero in on what you want to achieve with this SWOT analysis. This can be a decision you or the company have to make – for example, whether to launch a certain product line. Your goal can also be to solve a certain problem or to create/reassess your strategy.

2. Do Your Research

Your research wouldn't be complete if you googled ‘What is a SWOT analysis?’ You'll need a lot of data during your brainstorming session. If you have it, you'll avoid guessing your company's or your own strengths or external threats related to your goal.

What Data to Look For

Your research should consist of two parts:

• Internal research . You'll need every piece of information on your or the company's performance to pinpoint the internal factors in SWOT analysis. That can include financial, sales, marketing, and other reports with key metrics.
• External research . Gather the data on your competitors, the market, the company's position and market share, and the industry as a whole. This data will be the basis for assessing your opportunities and threats.

There's one footnote, though. Depending on the goal, you'll need different data sets. So, focus on relevant data.

3. Pinpoint Your or Your Organization's Strengths

Now, it's time for the brainstorming session. If you're doing a SWOT analysis for a business, go with it: bring the right people to the table, virtual or not. It'll help you get a more objective, realistic, and complete matrix.

Start with the internal factors, namely your internal strengths: they're always easier to home in on.

Need a SWOT analysis example of a company's strengths? Here are five of them:

• Outstanding customer service with a high satisfaction rate;
• Strong financial performance;
• The first-mover advantage;
• Positive brand attributes;
• Strong technical expertise in the field.

5 Questions to Ask

Here are five questions to kick off your brainstorming and help you discover your company's strengths – or your own:

• What do you or the company do well?
• What are your strongest assets?
• Is there something only you or the company do?
• What is your competitive edge?
• What do customers appreciate about the company?

4. Zero in on Your or Your Company's Weaknesses

Now, it's time to move on to a more difficult part of assessing your internal factors: your weaknesses. Take a hard look at your or the business's performance and define what could be going better. Don't try to embellish the truth here!

Keep in mind: there are some weaknesses that you can eliminate and some others that you can only mitigate.

Looking for weaknesses SWOT analysis examples for students who run their businesses? Here are five of them:

• Poor brand recognition among the target audience;
• Suboptimal employee productivity;
• Limited resources, human or otherwise;
• Lack of intellectual property for key technologies;
• Long delivery times.

To explore your personal or business weaknesses, ask the following five questions:

• What do your competitors beat you at?
• What do customers complain about?
• What is holding back your or the company's success?
• What resources do you or the company lack?
• What are the gaps in your internal business processes?

5. Identify External Opportunities

Before you can exploit opportunities, you need to identify them in your SWOT analysis – and determine which ones are worth using, too.

For that, you'll need to turn to the external environment research you've done. Then, look at that data and pinpoint which trends or events you could take advantage of.

Need a SWOT analysis example or two here? Take a look at these three business opportunities:

• New markets emerging within the industry;
• New advertising channels rising to prominence;
• Particular customer needs that remain underserved.

4 Questions to Ask

If you don't know how to start zeroing in on opportunities, start with these four questions:

• Are there ways to gain useful resources you don't have or have little of?
• Are there any technological advancements that can help you mitigate your weaknesses?
• Are there any new or overlooked opportunities that you can exploit?
• How can the current economy or market trends be of use to you?

6. Home in on Potential Threats

Time to move on to the final part of a standard SWOT analysis: threats. These external trends and events can get in your way – or already are.

If you're working on a personal SWOT analysis, threats can include:

• High competition for the job you're after;
• Potential layoffs due to a financial crisis.

If you're conducting one for a large company or a small business, negative external factors can include:

• New emerging competitors, direct or indirect;
• New regulations that can entail considerable additional costs for the business;
• Unfavorable investment climate.

3 Questions to Ask

If you need a push in the right direction, here are three questions to help you zero in on the threats:

• Who are your competitors, and what is their market position?
• What is the state of the economy, industry, and market? Are they in decline?
• Are there any new regulations that can harm the business?

7. Review Your SWOT Analysis Matrix

Having a good SWOT analysis right after brainstorming is impossible. You need to review every factor you've written down and edit the list. Leave only the elements that truly matter – and make them more specific if required.

3 Things to Pay Attention to

There are some common caveats that you can overlook if you need to be more careful during this step. Here are three of them to avoid:

• Factors that aren't specific enough – clarify or cross them out;
• Factors that aren't evidence-based – find proof or get rid of them;
• Factors that are over- or underestimated – have a fresh pair of eyes to look at the list.

8. Decide on the Solution

Once you've finished filling out and editing your SWOT analysis template, your work is only beginning. Now, you need to take your SWOT matrix and use your findings to find the solution to your key issue.

4 Questions to Pose

Here are four questions to guide you in your solution-seeking:

• How can you maximize your strengths? Which ones should be the top priority to boost?
• How can you mitigate or eliminate your weaknesses? Which ones should be taken care of first?
• Which opportunities should you take advantage of? Which ones will pay off the most?
• Which threats can do the most harm? How can you limit their impact?

4 SWOT Analysis Examples for Students

Need something more than just a SWOT analysis template? Let's see how this tool can be applied to practice with these four real-world SWOT analysis examples for students.

But if these sample SWOT analysis still don't help you, don't panic just yet. You can always order an essay online and let professionals worry about it. And no, it won't cost you a small fortune!

Amazon and Tesla Analysis

Apple and personal swot analysis, are you drowning in schoolwork.

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Swot Analysis - Essay Examples And Topic Ideas For Free

Wil’s grill swot analysis.

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Recreational Equipment Incorporated: SWOT Analysis

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Walmart Weaknesses

INTERNAL STRENGTHS The Internal Strengths of a company are what makes them who they are, also they are what contributes to the success of that company. Some of the internal strengths of Walmart, according to Smithson and SWOT Analysis, are: The largest retailer in the world- Walmart is the largest retailer and employees the most people in the world. This contributes to reputation and allows them to be everywhere for their customers Global expansion- Walmart is in 22 countries over […]

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SWOT Analysis Apple Inc.

Apple Inc. is a technology company that designs, manufactures and sells mobile electronics, software and other online solutions for the consumers of tech products. It is an American multinational founded on April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne, and Steve Wozniak. The company has had great success in the past decade and has dominated the technology industry, evident from the amount of revenue generated (O'Grady, 2009). Some of the major changes that have taken place in the company since […]

The Purpose of this SWOT Analysis for Netflix

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Apple Company Business Background

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computers, Inc. on April 1, 1976. They conveyed to the new organization a dream of changing the manner in which individuals saw PCs. Jobs and Wozniak needed to make PCs little enough for individuals to have them in their homes or workplaces. They dreamt of a user friendly and convenient computer. Wozniak left Apple in 1983 because of a reducing enthusiasm for the everyday running of Apple Computers. Jobs at that point contracted […]

Running Head: CVS SWOT Analysis

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Volvo AB SWOT Analysis and Core Competencies

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SWOT Analysis of Walmart Stores Inc

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Planet fitness is a franchised company which was incorporated in the year 1992 as a fitness center. The company operates through three segments: franchised, corporate-owned stores and equipment (Bertoti, Crawford & Lee, 2017). Franchise include an operation of company’s franchising business while the corporate-owned stores deal with all operation in respect to corporate-owned stores throughout the United State and Canada and the equipment segment involves the sale of equipment to franchisee-owned stores. I am, therefore, going to explain the strengths, […]

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How To Write an Essay About Swot Analysis

Understanding swot analysis.

Before writing an essay about SWOT analysis, it's crucial to understand what SWOT stands for and how it is used. SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It's a framework that helps organizations or individuals to identify internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieving their objectives. Start your essay by explaining each component of SWOT: Strengths (what an organization or individual does well), Weaknesses (areas that need improvement), Opportunities (external factors that can be exploited for benefit), and Threats (external factors that could cause trouble). It's important to understand that SWOT Analysis is a strategic planning tool used in a variety of fields, from business management to personal development.

Developing a Thesis Statement

Your essay should be centered around a clear, concise thesis statement. This statement should present a specific viewpoint or argument about SWOT analysis. For instance, you might discuss the importance of SWOT analysis in strategic planning, analyze its effectiveness in a particular case study, or argue for modifications to the traditional SWOT analysis model to better suit modern business environments. Your thesis will guide the direction of your essay, providing a structured and focused analysis.

Gathering and Presenting Examples

To support your thesis, it's effective to gather and present examples of SWOT analysis. You might choose a specific company, industry, or even a personal scenario where SWOT analysis has been applied. Discuss how the four elements of SWOT were identified and used in decision-making processes. Providing real-life examples will make your essay more tangible and relatable, allowing readers to see the practical application of the theory.

Analyzing the Effectiveness of SWOT Analysis

Dedicate a section of your essay to critically analyzing the effectiveness of SWOT analysis. Discuss its advantages, such as its simplicity and comprehensiveness, as well as its limitations, which might include its subjective nature or lack of prioritization. You can also explore how SWOT analysis can be complemented with other strategic planning tools for more robust results.

Concluding the Essay

Conclude your essay by summarizing the main points and restating your thesis in light of the discussion. Your conclusion should tie together the analysis and emphasize the overall significance of SWOT analysis in strategic planning. You might also want to suggest areas for future research or potential improvements in the methodology of SWOT analysis.

Reviewing and Refining Your Essay

After writing your essay, take time to review and refine it. Ensure that your arguments are clearly articulated and supported by examples. Check for grammatical accuracy and ensure that your essay flows logically from one point to the next. Consider seeking feedback from peers or instructors to further improve your essay. A well-crafted essay on SWOT analysis will not only demonstrate your understanding of the framework but also your ability to critically engage with management and planning tools.

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How to do a SWOT Analysis in 7 Steps (with Examples & Template)

A SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool that an organization can use to thoroughly evaluate a business or product. SWOT is an acronym that stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. 

It allows businesses to evaluate their company’s competitive advantage and the flaws of its current business model and create strategies to capitalize on or reduce these observations.

In this article, we’ll discuss the key steps on how to do a SWOT analysis and give several brief examples highlighting the strategy being utilized in different situations.

How To do a SWOT Analysis?

One of the best things about performing a SWOT analysis is that it can be learned quite quickly and mastered with just a few attempts. Even though each framework is individualized, here are the basic steps involved in building a standard SWOT analysis .

Step 1: Determine Your Objective

Before embarking on a SWOT, it is vital to define your objectives. This could include things such as developing a comprehensive schematic of the business model and organization as well as the interactions between the various components, determining the competitive advantage and weaknesses of a new product before its rollout, or determining the feasibility of a new policy.

Step 2: Gather the Necessary Resources

During this stage, it is crucial to determine the resources that would be necessary for you to carry out the exercise, note which of these are accessible, gather these materials, verify the authenticity and reliability of this data, and what limitations you face in terms of data gathering and accuracy. It is also important to ensure that this data is gathered from different sources, perspectives, and levels of the organization to enable you to create a holistic SWOT analysis.

Step 3: Craft a List of Inferences Using the Data

After obtaining data from a wide range of sources, analyze these facts into helpful information and use them to form evidence-based observ–ations. For example, a business that has maintained a strong growth trajectory and a healthy balance sheet over the years can be said to have positive fiscal indicators.

This stage should be akin to a brainstorming session, with members from different divisions within the organization as well as external parties, being allowed to contribute significantly. At this stage, the focus is more on getting as many points as possible, rather than the relevancy or credibility of these inferences.

Step 4: Compile This Information Into the Relevant Sections

After making several key points such as the one above, each of these inferences should be arranged in the relevant sections (namely strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) using the general principles outlined in the article.

Step 5: Refine These Ideas

Here, the ideas which have been obtained are further refined and can be prioritized according to relevance and importance. Points that are less credible or only minimally important can as well be discarded, allowing you to craft a more concise schematic.

Step 6: Draw the SWOT Analysis Table

The final step is crafting a swot analysis table. This involves creating a matrix and dividing it into four sections. The internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) are listed above, with the strengths on the left and the weaknesses on the right. On the other hand, the external factors (opportunities and threats) are listed below, with opportunities on the left and threats on the right. Simply list your key points under the appropriate sections to complete the SWOT analysis.

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Step 7: Craft Your Strategy

This is not technically a part of the SWOT analysis technique; however, it is important to remember that the entire point of creating this analytic framework was to carry out a strategic management plan. This means that the business will set out a series of plans to meet the objectives which it has previously outlined, as well as create some reliable metrics or milestones which enable it to measure its progress toward achieving these goals.

SWOT Analysis Examples

To better understand how a SWOT analysis is created, let’s take a look at some examples of SWOT analysis. We’ll analyze three examples, the multinational activewear brand Nike , a hypothetical mom-and-pop diner called Joe’s Brooklyn Burgers, and another hypothetical scenario involving a new product rollout.

Large Company SWOT Analysis — Nike SWOT Analysis

From their iconic “swoosh” logo to their equally iconic range of footwear, Nike, Inc. is one of the most easily recognizable activewear brands in the world. While probably best known for its range of iconic footwear, most notably the Air Jordan brand of sneakers, Nike, Inc. is also a leading brand in other sports gear, such as activewear, sports equipment, and wearable fitness tech.

The Nike business model is famous for finding the perfect balance between fashion and functionality when it comes to their products, making them quite popular among both athletes and non-athletes alike. Let’s take a look through this Nike SWOT analysis , which was designed by our platform to figure out how the brand came to dominate the sportswear market.

• Solid brand equity: The brand has one of the most recognizable identities in the business world. Also, it commands solid brand equity (the commercial value of the public’s perception of its products or services). This is because the brand has cultivated a reputation associated with innovation, quality, and social justice;
• Low-cost manufacturing is a key part of its business model: Nike has invested heavily in low-cost manufacturing by outsourcing its manufacturing process to countries that have a favorable wage structure and investing in innovative technologies. This keeps costs low and profit margins high;
• Innovative marketing strategies: Through the smart use of celebrity endorsements, iconic marketing campaigns, effective use of social media, and iconic imagery like the Nike “swoosh” logo, the brand has aligned itself with positive associations such as innovation, stylishness, maximum performance, winning, and self-empowerment;
• Increasing direct-to-consumer sales: Nike has increased direct-to-consumer sales by cutting ties with its major retailers and investing in e-commerce. This increases its profit margin, brand visibility, and control over its image;
• Impressive R&D department: The company is well known for outspending its closest competitors in this area. It has introduced some of the most iconic developments in competitive sportswear, making it a favorite for many top athletes.
• Controversial labor practices: Several reports published in the late 1990s indicated that the low-cost manufacturing strategy used by Nike may have involved unethical labor practices such as poor working conditions, long working hours, and abysmal pay;
• The brand is too dependent on its U.S. market: Nike is seen as a global brand, but careful analysis shows a significant portion of its revenue comes from the U.S. market. This leaves the company vulnerable to market shocks or economic downturns within the U.S. market;
• Worrying about financial indicators: While Nike is still by far the most valuable sports apparel company in the world, recent worrying financial trends have been brought to the spotlight. One of them is the steadily increasing long-term debt profile of the company. It is also worrisome that the company’s profit margins have steadily declined over the past few years;
• Unfavorable relationship with retailers: Using third-party retailers exposes the company to some of the disadvantages associated with this strategy, such as lower profit margins, as well as less control over their branding, and the risk of counterfeit merchandise;
• Reduced quality control: One of the disadvantages of outsourcing your manufacturing process is that you have reduced control over the quality of your products. Outsourcing can also increase the risk of the market being flooded with counterfeit Nike products.

Opportunities

• Investing in new markets: Nike still has room to expand its role as a global market by making inroads into new markets, such as increasing their presence in Europe, Africa, and Asian markets outside of China;
• Diversify their product range: Another area the brand could look into is investing in sports technology, such as wearable sports gear like smartwatches and other forms of digital sports technology. They could also invest in promoting their other sports products besides footwear;
• Invest in new technologies: This includes examples such as anti-counterfeiting technology, green energy, and more efficient sportswear technology.
• Counterfeit Nike products: Counterfeit products reduce the trust customers have in brand quality and create a negative brand image. This is especially important for Nike because the brand is one of the most counterfeited in the world, with footwear being one of the most commonly faked products;
• Competition from other brands: Nike is significantly ahead of other sporting wear companies such as Adidas, Reebok, Under Armour, and Puma. However, some of these companies, such as Adidas, command a significant market share and pull in revenue that is indeed threatening Nike’s continued dominance of the industry;
• High-profile patent disputes: As one of the market leaders in terms of research and development, Nike fiercely protects its intellectual property, such as patents. Therefore, it was certainly newsworthy when the company got into a series of legal battles with its nearest competitor Adidas over accusations of patent infringement related to the Nike Flyknit technology;
• International trade tensions: As an international brand, Nike is exposed to the nuances of trade agreements, embargoes, protectionism, as well as trade tensions;
• Its competitors are investing more heavily in advertising: Nike spends more than its closest competitor Adidas on advertising, having spent approximately $3.8 billion on advertising in 2018 (less than 10% of its total revenue), while Adidas spent $3.5 billion (representing roughly 14% of its total revenue) in that same year.

The objective of this SWOT analysis was to identify the competitive advantage of the brand and educate readers on how the corporation came to dominate the world of activewear. This was identified to be its strong brand equity, low-cost manufacturing, heavy investment in innovative technologies, as well as improving direct-to-consumer sales.

Small Business SWOT Analysis — Bob’s Brooklyn Burgers

Next, let’s take a look at a SWOT analysis for a small, independent restaurant called Bob’s Brooklyn Burgers. This will allow us to examine how the SWOT analysis of a small business differs from that of a large multinational corporation.

Our hypothetical business is a small, family-owned diner based in Brooklyn that caters to a number of local customers and offers a unique Brooklyn-themed menu. The business has been operating successfully over several decades but has run into some lean times in recent years. Let’s examine the SWOT analysis of this business to better understand the issues it faces and as well craft a brief outline of how it can reclaim its former glory.

Proximity to customers. One of the advantages of being a locally popular restaurant is that they are closer to their customers, which gives them local dominance as well as an advantage over franchised restaurants that may be located further away.

• They offer a great customer experience: The restaurant offers amazing customer service due to the personalized nature of its services, its familiarity with regular customers as well as its unique branding style, which resonates with locals;
• The restaurant is known for its top-notch cuisine: One advantage the diner enjoys as a small independent restaurant is greater control over its supply chains and, by extension, greater control over the quality of its ingredients and food. This means that the restaurant can offer higher cuisine than fast-food restaurants;
• The establishment has a great reputation: Bob’s Brooklyn Burgers has been a trusted part of the community for over two decades and has built a reputation for itself as a great local destination for top-notch cuisine as well as an enjoyable dining experience. Not only does this help it retain its pool of loyal clientele, but it has also transformed the location into a local hotspot for tourists and NY-themed food enthusiasts;
• Their small size offers them a greater degree of flexibility: Another key advantage enjoyed by the restaurant is the advantage that being a small, independent business offers in terms of flexibility. This allows for quicker decision-making and rapid changes in internal policies to deal with new challenges. It also allows the business to take more risks in the form of pivots and brand adjustments due to a more streamlined decision-making process;
• A strong workplace culture: As we mentioned earlier, Bob’s Brooklyn Burgers is a family-owned establishment. A significant number of employees are either directly related to the owner or close associates, and have worked at the establishment for years. This creates a positive work environment due to their familiarity with each other and experiences working together, which in turn increases efficiency and enhances customer satisfaction.
• Low-profit margin: Despite its popularity and great reputation, due to several factors, including mounting debt, poor financial management, and rising labor costs, the restaurant has been operating on an increasingly thin profit margin. This poses a significant challenge to the growth and continued existence of the business if not properly addressed either through increasing revenue or cutting down costs;
• Lack of professional services: Similar to most small businesses, the diner suffers from a lack of professional expertise in certain areas such as marketing, accounting as well as legal services. Therefore, these services are often carried out by untrained staff, thereby reducing efficiency and driving up costs in terms of both man-hours lost and monetary losses;
• Poor management: Despite the best efforts of its management staff, the diner has been suffering from poor oversight and a range of conflicting internal policies, which have reduced the overall efficiency of the business;
• Lack of professional hiring practices: Bob’s Brooklyn Burgers is a family-owned establishment and thus maintains a rather informal hiring process. While this may create a familiar, friendly, and cozy working environment, it does so at the cost of hiring the best possible staff. This leads to employing personnel who may not be optimally suited for certain roles, as well as makes the process of letting go of staff difficult;
• Higher per unit costs: The business also runs higher per unit costs than larger restaurant franchises that enjoy the advantages of economies of scale as well as bulk purchases. This further drives up operating costs and reduces the profit margins of the business.
• Outsourcing some of its key operations: Bob’s Brooklyn Burgers would do well to outsource several specialized functions within its business operation, such as advertising and marketing, accounting, and legal services. Not only will they enjoy increased efficiency by allowing professionals to handle these tasks, but it also allows both staff and management to focus on tasks for which they are better suited;
• Further expansion and scaling: Even though the business is quite successful locally, there is still much potential for expansion. It can capitalize on its popularity and positive reputation to build similarly themed restaurants and other iconic locations both within and outside the state;
• Diversification: Currently, the restaurant operates using a limited menu. While this is adequate for most local clientele, expanding the menu may attract more customers as well, this allows the restaurant to diversify and keep up with changing customer preferences;
• Expanding into online food delivery: Bob’s Brooklyn Burgers does not currently operate an online food delivery service. Creating such a service will increase its reach, further expanding its customer base and, by extension, revenue;
• Investing in a strong social media presence: Bob’s Brooklyn Burgers has not yet invested in the power of social media as a marketing tool as well as a customer channel which will allow them to reach out to a much broader and more diverse customer base.
• Changing government health regulations: Certain local legislation introduced by the state government has made it harder and more expensive for the business to source certain ingredients. This has driven up costs, further restricted their menu, and reduced their profit margin;
• Increasing competition from other dining establishments: The business has been facing increasing competition from both fast-food franchises and independent restaurants. This is a significant challenge to their local dominance and has eaten into their market share and, by extension, revenue;
• Lack of adequate access to capital: Small businesses such as Bob’s Brooklyn Burgers have a harder time accessing capital than larger franchises and businesses. This makes it harder for them to expand and also puts them in a more difficult situation during times of significant reductions in revenue, such as a global pandemic.

The objective of this SWOT analysis was to determine the issues plaguing the diner and help it design a strategy to improve its current business model. To achieve this, a matching and converting strategy will be used. This means that we will attempt to combine the strengths and opportunities of the business while converting the weaknesses and threats into positive indicators, or at least reducing their negative effects.

First of all, the company can outsource the various professional services listed above in order to enable it to focus on the parts of the business operation where it has a significant advantage over its competitors. This includes providing a top-notch customer experience as well as cooking top-quality meals.

Another option they could look into is utilizing the reach of social media as an avenue to build a strong online food delivery service. The fact that many of their customers are local and live relatively close to the establishment also makes this feasible. This also has the added advantage of diversifying their revenue stream .

Lastly, the company can focus on using its reputation for providing great meals as a focal point for expanding into new territories and new markets.

Product Rollout SWOT Analysis — The Turbo 2000 Product Rollout

Now that we have discussed how to perform a SWOT analysis on both large and small companies, let’s focus on the last example in this article: How to perform a SWOT analysis on a hypothetical product launch.

For this example, we will perform a SWOT analysis on the rollout of a hypothetical high-end gas stove known as the Turbo Burner 2000. This example will highlight the competitive advantage of the product as well as the challenges it may face during its launch.

• The product is coming from a well-trusted brand: One of the advantages enjoyed by the Turbo Burner 2000 is that the product comes from a well-respected company with strong brand equity and a reputation for making top-notch cooking appliances. This will boost consumer confidence and encourage more people to purchase the product;
• It makes use of revolutionary cooking ware technology: The product incorporates revolutionary gas stove technology and has been found to increase thermal efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. This helps cut down costs in the long run, shorten cooking time, reduce emissions, and enhance customer satisfaction with the entire process;
• Targeted branding and marketing: The company has created a niche for itself and is the go-to brand for high-end cooking appliances and equipment. They cater to a range of customers who may require such products, including professional chefs, restaurants, and middle- to upper-class cooking enthusiasts. 

Catering to a narrow niche allows them to better target their branding efforts and increase their profit margin by focusing resources on their key market, which reduces their customer acquisition cost. It also creates an impression of exclusivity, which only serves to further drive up the image of the company as a luxury brand;

• Improved product design and ergonomics: The new product has a more ergonomic design than its predecessor and is very user-friendly. It is made from lighter materials, making it more portable as well as compact. There are also more useful functions, such as a sleeker self-lighting feature, color-coded indicator lights, and a more sensitive temperature control;
• Backed by a company in a strong financial position: The parent company of the product is currently enjoying a strong financial position, which helps them to financially support the launch of the new product in terms of marketing and advertising;
• Very successful first model: The first model (the Turbo Burner 1000) was a massive success within the cooking industry and likely encouraged many buyers to upgrade to the newer model.
• The product is quite expensive: The Turbo Burner 2000 is quite costly for a gas stove, and this is likely going to scare off most buyers except professionals and cooking enthusiasts;
• It is seen as a luxury good: Even though gas stoves are used by people of all economic backgrounds, the price of the product, its marketing strategy, as well as the reputation of its parent brand has given it the image of a luxury product. This may alienate some buyers from utilizing the product, as well as runs the risk of creating a negative association with the brand;
• It is marketed to a narrow niche: While there are several advantages that come with targeting your product at a narrow portion of the market, there are also some drawbacks as well. First of all, it reduces your reach and may alienate a range of potential customers, leading to less actualized revenue. It also increases your vulnerability to rapid changes in market conditions and consumer sentiment, as your income is significantly less diversified;
• Costly R&D and marketing: The Turbo Burner 2000 is a top-notch product and required significant investment in R&D to design. Also, although the company caters to a much narrower niche than most competitors, its Customer Acquisition Costs are much higher.
• Expand its market share by offering cheaper versions: The brand could seek to diversify its business model by offering a range of cheaper alternatives to the standard model. This opens up the business to new customers and by extension increases its potential revenue. It also reduces their vulnerability to sudden shifts in market sentiment;
• Focusing on further innovation: The parent brand has a strong reputation for being an innovative powerhouse in the industry and can capitalize on the strong R&D department it has built to create more innovative technologies and improve on existing designs. This will help keep it a step ahead of its competitors and also increase the reputation of the brand as an innovator within the industry;
• Investing in sustainability: The fossil fuel industry has been under pressure in recent years and, by extension, materials and equipment are driven by fossil fuels. Investing in technologies and technologies that increase the eco-friendliness of the product is a great way to boost positive consumer associations with the brand;
• Increased supply chain efficiencies: By investing in improving the efficiency of its supply chain, the company can further drive down the cost of individual units of the product, increasing sales and also improving its profit margin as well.
• Supply chain disruptions: Significant disruptions to the supply chain of the product may lead to a wide variety of issues such as increased cost per unit as well as reduced production capacity. Overall, this may negatively affect the price or availability of the product and by extension its introduction into the market;
• Changing consumer sentiment: With more consumer interest in climate change and sustainable technologies, the fossil fuel industry and other industries which are dependent on it have attracted much criticism. For example, there has been increasing concern among consumers concerning the long-term health effects of cooking gas and its links to a range of chronic illnesses;
• Changing macroeconomics: Rapid changes in macroeconomics such as recessions and rapid rises in inflation weaken the purchasing power of buyers. This may affect the ability of a lot of individuals to purchase consumer goods such as high-end gas stoves;
• The success of the initial rollout. The widespread success of the first model may discourage buyers from upgrading to the newer product, even with the improved specifications.

Performing a SWOT analysis may be one of the most important activities that any business can carry out within its lifetime. Whether this is done regularly or just as a one-time evaluation, understanding how to get the best out of the technique is key to fully utilizing the benefits and understanding the limitations of the technique.

Who is Daniel Pereira ?

I love understanding strategy and innovation using the business model canvas tool so much that I decided to share my analysis by creating a website focused on this topic.

More About Me

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Home / Essay Samples / Business / Entrepreneurship / Swot Analysis

Swot Analysis Essay Examples

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