4i S.W.O.T. Analysis
You’re The CEO and Your Business’ Situation is Critical…
You’re being held hostage by
Sales are down… leads are down. You’re cutting prices just to stay alive.
Your normal approaches to marketing, advertising and sales just aren’t working like they used to. What do you do? What can you do?
It’s Time to Call S.W.O.T.
At CEOGrowthTeam.com, we have a very advanced approach to traditional S.W.O.T. analysis. Get the real perspective on what is actually happening in your organization and in your marketplace… and get the specific accelerated strategies that will correct it all and change the outcome in your favor.
I have been in this industry for quite a long time and I took a very different path to get where I am. I don’t have the traditional education (as many of my peers do) which one might expect when it comes to branding, advertising and marketing. As a matter of fact, I have always had a small (alright, big!) contempt for traditional, mainstream approaches to branding, marketing or advertising… and to the people that embrace them.
I think that most marketing people on the payroll of any company are a waste of money. Although they may show up to work every day and truly put forth an honest effort, I still find it suspect that the results they produce are miniscule, not worth the investment and generally leave you (the CEO) confused as to what to do next.
One of the approaches that I used to hear about all of the time in the early days of my career was S.W.O.T. analysis.
I used to think that the term sounded very big and quite grand, and I expected the results of such an analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) to be deep, detailed and genuinely useful.
And I thought that the idea of a S.W.O.T. analysis was fantastic, that was until I actually saw the concept in action. What I saw was something very basic and very elementary. It was a single piece of paper, divided into four sections, and the sections were labeled Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities or Threats.
Initially, I really tried not to be critical and judge the format harshly just because of its simplicity. (Many simple things that are extremely powerful can be disguised as plain and amateurish… simple.) Then, as I began to research the concept more, I started to find S.W.O.T. analysis examples for all sizes and types of companies.
The results were disappointing. In fact, they were extremely disappointing.
There was just a short list of bullet points under each of the respective categories. That was it. A very cursory attempt at what should have been an in-depth research process. This was absolutely not what I expected or anticipated.
What I thought should have been an investigation into the organization being scrutinized and a much closer look taken in to how they performed operationally (based on the things that are most important to their marketplace, and how they compare with their competition)… was not. It was actually something that resembled child’s play.
I have grown weary of giving my peers the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their level of experience and expertise. Each time that I’ve even slightly broken down the walls that divide us and extended professional respect, I was sorely let down – every single time. More importantly, the proof was right there that they have been abusing the titles that they have given themselves, and these are the very titles that allow them whatever credibility they need to be hired by your organization.
In the end, I found that the traditional S.W.O.T. analysis as a practical tool was completely useless to me in creating the competitive advantage that CEOs demanded and needed in their marketplace.
What started out as a seemingly legitimate, advanced strategy development process ended up as another over-glorified marketing industry term for the tenderfoot businessperson. I saw no legitimate value in the way S.W.O.T. analysis was conducted by the mass marketing mind. And I was taken aback.
But, I liked the term. So I decided to create my own version of S.W.O.T. Analysis.
 SWOT I took a little creative license with the concept of S.W.O.T. and integrated it with the very well known police concept called SWAT. And I did it for obvious reasons. First, phonetically, they are the same, and second, conceptually they have the same level of intensity. They are both advanced strategic responses in an emotionally intense environment. (Plus… from a branding perspective, I think it looks cool merging the two concepts!)
When you follow the link, you’ll see the worksheet that I (and consultants who are authorized to use my material) utilize to conduct my kind of S.W.O.T. Analysis. It’s called a 4i Worksheet and I think the four interview sections explain the name pretty clearly.
This worksheet will help you conduct a very detailed and in-depth analysis of your organization.
You are going to need a little help accomplishing this but I have arranged a special opportunity for you to do so. Just contact us. This will make all the difference in the world in your approach to the marketplace… and will surely give you the advantage you need. |
