Start your response with a brief description of your business (company name, what you do, and what you sell). This description should not be longer than 3 sentences. 

Start your response with a brief description of your business (company name, what you do, and what you sell). This description should not be longer than 3 sentences. You will include this in your response each week to remind everyone of your business. 

2. Complete the SWOT matrix for your selected company. 

· Download the template from the discussion, complete the  SWOT matrix(table) in the Word document, then copy and paste the content into the discussion window.  Do not attach the Word document to the discussion window. 

· Be specific to your company and avoid generic statements.  You need to have 4 items in each category. 

3. Under the matrix, briefly discuss the opportunities you identified in your SWOT Matrix to clarify how you can increase your sales by pursuing those opportunities.

Information on the SWOT

Strengths

· are internal (under your control), unique to you, or something you do better than the competition.

Examples: central location, a patent, certified staff, an effective distribution system, experienced management team, etc.

Weaknesses

· are internal to the company (under your control) and those aspects you can improve on, are lacking,  or are missing.

Examples: a weak brand, inexperienced staff, quality issues, insufficient funds, weak social media presence, etc.

Opportunities 

·  They are positive and external to the company.

· are not under the company’s control and they cannot be created. You can just notice them and take action /advantage of them to grow your business.

Examples:

1. Consumer trends in healthy foods or exercise (specify the trend)- e.g”  An increase in the customers’ preferences for organic produce”

2. Consumer trends towards electric or hybrid cars for fuel efficiency (specify trend) – e.g- ”  An increase in the customers’ preferences for electric vehicles”

3. Consumer preferences for green power and technology (specify trend)- e.g ”  An increase in the number of customers installing solar panels on their homes”  

4. Growth in the industry : e.g. ”  The snack food industry is growing 2% every year’.

5. An increase in the population in your area” e.g. ”  There is a trend of people moving  in the Atlanta area for the past 3 years, at a 5% growth every year”

6. An increase in the median income – ”  For the past 5 years, the median income in Atlanta increased 5% every year”. 

Threats 

·  They are negative and external to the company.

· are not under the company’s control. You can just notice them and take action /contingency plans.

Examples:

1. Changes in Local, State, or Federal laws may negatively impact your business (specify a change in the law) – new regulations around environmental protection can pose a threat as companies may need to change their equipment or processes to abide by these laws.

2. The Pandemic may force your business to close or operate at a reduced capacity (specify) – the pandemic is an external factor, not under your control.

3. Changes in consumer preferences (specify the change)  e.g. ”  More customers prefer low-fat products” (this is a threat for products high in fat).

4. SWOT Matrix

5.

Post a Response

Note: Please review the information posted in the Instructor Insights area this week before working on your discussion reply. You will find tips and resources to help.

For this week’s discussion response, complete the SWOT matrix to highlight the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the company (as approved by the instructor). Each SWOT category should include four items. Use the SWOT matrix template below.

· SWOT Matrix Template. Download SWOT Matrix Template.

Start with a brief overview of your business: company name and what you are selling (a maximum of 3 sentences).

1. Submit the completed SWOT Matrix.

2. Discuss the opportunities you identified in your SWOT Matrix to clarify how you can increase your sales by pursuing those opportunities.

Review the link  SWOT Analysis: How To With Table and ExampleLinks to an external site.  for additional information.