SWOT+analysis

//Honing in the helps and hindrances//
 * SWOT ANALYSIS**


 * What it is**
 * Acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats in relation to a situation, an activity or programme.
 * A strategic planning tool for identifying key factors that may influence specific OHCHR action and response.


 * When to use it**

- To carry out an environmental scan - To make an internal assessment - For strategic planning and organizational development - To incorporate different perspectives of a situation


 * How it is applied**


 * Design four series of SWOT analysis questions to explore internal and external factors that may affect a case, situation or challenge.
 * Internal factors that generate strengths and weaknesses may include human resources, finances, organizational structure and priorities, and institutional culture.
 * Common external factors that affect opportunities and threats include the political, social and economic context, and technological advances or limitations.
 * Create a blank two-by-two table (see table below) to capture factors having a potential impact on the situation.
 * Questions that guide the participants may be included in this table, or provided in flip-charts or hand-outs.
 * Create small working groups of participants and instruct each group to appoint a facilitator and a note taker.
 * The facilitator must guide the discussion while remaining impartial and supportive.
 * The note taker will add key points into the matrix as the group agrees on them.
 * Rotate among the groups to check that they are focused and to provide assistance if required
 * Use a bell, verbal announcement or other sound to indicate each quarter of the allocated time. This does not necessarily need to be adhered to, but will help participants manage time.
 * Conclude the working session and have the groups report back in plenary.
 * Lead a collaborative discussion that identifies priority areas for action.
 * Record the key reflections and next steps.
 * Ensure appropriate follow-up to the activity.

Example two-by-two table What are your strengths? What resources can you draw upon? || What could you improve? What are other likely to see you as weakness? || What trends could you take advantage of? How can you turn strengths into opportunities || What threats could harm you? Who is the source of threats? What threats do your weakness expose to you? ||
 * **Strenghts** || **Weaknesses** ||
 * What do you do well?
 * **Opportunities** || **Threats** ||
 * What opportunities are open to you?


 * How to adapt it**
 * Create four working groups and tell each to address one aspect of the SWOT analysis: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities or threats.
 * Each group must appoint a facilitator and a note-taker to steer the discussion and reporting.
 * Provide a large rectangular piece of paper labelled with the element that they must analyse.
 * After enough time has been allowed to discuss the subject (depending on its complexity), instruct each group to report to the plenary on the results of their work.
 * Combine the notes of all four groups into a complete matrix by hanging them on the wall in a visible space.
 * Lead a reflective conversation about the next steps and actions.
 * SWOT analysis can also be carried out individually.


 * What to consider**
 * Pay careful attention to the more obvious and subtle aspects of a scenario, as they can sometimes be overlooked in favour of grand or dramatic SWOT indicators.
 * Ensure that the participants devote an appropriate amount of time to each of the four areas to create a balanced picture of the case or problem.


 * Timing** (approximately 1h30)

introduction to the method (5 minutes) individual reflection and preparation (15 minutes) group based work on the 4 factors (45 minutes) collective debriefing (25 minutes)

- copies of the two-by-two tables - pencil and markers - flipcharts
 * What you will need**

Short video and sample worksheet from a business or individual perspective: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_05.htm Key approaches from a business perspective: http://forlearn.jrc.ec.europa.eu/guide/2_design/meth_swot-analysis.htm
 * Where to learn more**


 * Quotes**

"What's important is to avoid using this method as an end in itself. Its value lies in using it as a step in a process, for instance in the context of strategic planning". (Ahmed Motala)

" In our courses on human rights monitoring, we propose using this method to analyze strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities of OHCHR interaction with civil society to then see how we can take advantage of the strengths of civil society to compensate the weaknesses of OHCHR in a given country. For instance, civil society normally has better knowledge of the local reality and a stronger outreach capacity on the ground while OHCHR can have better access to authorities and the international community. The SWOT analysis can help in shaping OHCHR interaction with civil society in such a way that both parties can best complement each other". (Mara Steccazzini)