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what are the four parts of a swot analysis?

The four parts of a SWOT analysis are: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

Quick Scoop: The 4 Parts of a SWOT

Think of SWOT as a simple 2×2 grid that helps you quickly understand where you stand and what’s coming at you.

1. Strengths (Internal, Positive)

  • What you or your business already does well.
  • Examples: strong brand, loyal customers, skilled team, unique technology, great location, solid finances.
  • In a matrix, these sit in the top-left quadrant as your internal advantages.

2. Weaknesses (Internal, Negative)

  • Areas where you are at a disadvantage or underperforming compared with others.
  • Examples: limited budget, skill gaps, outdated systems, poor processes, weak online presence.
  • These are also internal, meaning you can directly work on improving them over time.

3. Opportunities (External, Positive)

  • Favorable external factors you can use to grow or improve.
  • Examples: new markets, emerging technologies, shifts in customer trends, regulatory changes that help you.
  • These come from outside your organization, so you need to spot them early and act.

4. Threats (External, Negative)

  • External factors that could harm performance or create risk.
  • Examples: new competitors, economic downturns, changing customer preferences, stricter regulations.
  • You can’t control threats directly, but you can prepare strategies to reduce their impact.

Simple SWOT Table (HTML)

Here’s a quick HTML version of the classic SWOT grid:

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th></th>
      <th>Helpful</th>
      <th>Harmful</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <th>Internal</th>
      <td><strong>Strengths</strong><br>Internal advantages, what you do well.[web:1][web:3]</td>
      <td><strong>Weaknesses</strong><br>Internal disadvantages, where you struggle.[web:1][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <th>External</th>
      <td><strong>Opportunities</strong><br>External chances for growth or improvement.[web:1][web:5]</td>
      <td><strong>Threats</strong><br>External risks or challenges.[web:1][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

One-Line TL;DR

SWOT = Strengths (internal positives), Weaknesses (internal negatives), Opportunities (external positives), and Threats (external negatives) used together in a 2×2 matrix to guide strategy.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.