Growing an Entrepreneurial Business by An electronic version of this book is available via the EMU Library using your my.emich login. You can login and read the entire book via an internet browser. You won't be able to download the entire book, but multiple students can read this eBook online at the same time.
A SWOT is a common analysis tool used to show a company's competitive position within it's industry. It identifies what makes the company a unique competitor, what it's problems are, possible growth opportunities, and legal, political, and environmental threats to that growth. An analysis is a snapshot in time, so it needs to be updated as conditions change.
S=Strengths
W=Weaknesses
O=Opportunities
T=Threats
To analyze your company, you will research both the company and the external environment. You may also want to see if you can find a published SWOT to "jumpstart" your research.
To look for a SWOT, follow the directions in "Some published SWOT analyses" below.
To research companies & the external environment, use resources in the guides listed under boxes 2. & 3.
Note: Each of these links takes you to a separate research guide.
The green links to the left offer ways to find info on how to cite your sources or on how to get help from a librarian. This research isn't always easy, so advice from a librarian could come in handy!
Use resources in the Research Guides below to learn more about your company.
Essential Sources:
Annual Report to Shareholders (usually in investor section of company web site)
Recent 10-K filing (via EDGAR)
Articles on company in ABI/INFORM database.
Use resources from the guides below to analyse the external environment.
Especially recommended:
S&P Industry Surveys
Market research reports in Mintel
Articles in ABI/INFORM