This is a help page for SWOT stratergy diagrams in the context of business models and [[VARS analysis|https://www.coursera.org/lecture/strategy-business/1-2-2-the-v-a-r-s-framework-part-1-b1vGk.]]
There are a number of online tools you can use to create SWOT diagrams, here are some heuristics to help you fill in the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.
Here is a template from [[Shopify's guide|https://www.shopify.com/blog/74665093-want-to-future-proof-your-business-try-a-swot-analysis]]
[[Strengths | Strengths ]]
[[Weaknesses | Weaknesses ]]
[[Opportunities | Opportunities ]]
[[Threats | Threats ]]Strengths
These are positive, internal factors that affect how your business performs. Although they may be difficult to change, they should be within your control:
What are we good at?
What do we do better than anyone else?
What is our competitive advantage?
What do we do that no one else does?
What resources do we have at our disposal?
What are our ecommerce company’s advantages?
What advantages do our employees have?
What valuable assets does our company have?
What do our customers like about our business?
[[Three SWOT Analysis Tools and Applications]] Weaknesses
These are negative, internal factors that affect how your business performs. Although they may be difficult to change, they should be within your control:
What are we bad at?
What do our competitors do better than us?
What do our customers complain about?
What disadvantages does our team carry?
What is holding us back?
Which resources are we lacking?
What could we improve?
[[Three SWOT Analysis Tools and Applications]] Opportunities
These are external factors that could affect your business in a positive way. They may be largely out of your control, but you can choose to leverage them:
What potential regulation changes could help our business?
Is the market changing in a favorable way?
Is the current economy going to affect us in a positive way?
What opportunities have we not pursued yet?
What new opportunities are becoming available?
Is our cost of goods going down?
Is there a way for us to acquire useful resources that we do not already have?
[[Three SWOT Analysis Tools and Applications]] Threats
These are external factors that could affect your business in a negative way. They may be largely out of your control, but you can create a contingency plan to minimize the damage:
Who are our existing competitors?
What new entrants to the market could threaten our ecommerce business?
Is our market size declining?
Is the industry changing in a way that could negatively impact our business?
Is our cost of goods increasing?
Is a supply we rely on becoming scarce?
Are regulations changing in a way that could hurt our business?
Is our manufacturer unreliable?
[[Three SWOT Analysis Tools and Applications]] Three free SWOT Analysis Tools and Applications
1- SWOT Analysis Generator (cost is free)
[[SWOT Tool 001|http://www.wikiwealth.com/swot-analysis-generator]]
The SWOT Analysis Generator is the easiest and most direct method to create a SWOT Analysis. The tool is released by Wiki Wealth. The web application includes four sections for each SWOT factor. Each factor is represented by a number of common characteristics. If custom characteristics are required, it can be added in a customer text field. Finally, the SWOT report can be exported as dynamic form.
2- Creately SWOT Diagrams (cost is free with upgrade versions)
[[SWOT Tool 002|http://creately.com/SWOT-Analysis-Software]]
SWOT Diagrams software is a web tool that does not need installation. The web application includes SWOT Analysis templates and diagrams and can be used as a start to build a customized SWOT diagram. Unlike the SWOT Analysis Generator, SWOT Diagrams requires manual input for the characteristics of each factor which affects the company or the new project.
3- Gliffy (cost is free)
[[SWOT Tool 003|https://www.gliffy.com/uses/swot-analysis-software/]]
Gliffy is another web based tool to create charts including SWOT Analysis. It has a similar interface such as the Creately SWOT Diagrams. While Gliffy allows high customization through the drawing tools and shapes; It does not provide template examples to questions which are needed to be asked while evaluating each of the SWOT factors.