nandanosql Purpose
Conduct a structured analysis of your product's internal strengths/weaknesses and external opportunities/threats to inform strategic decisions. SWOT is simple to run but powerful when you connect the quadrants to concrete actions.
Key Concepts
The SWOT Matrix
HELPFUL HARMFUL
┌─────────────┬──────────────┐
I │ STRENGTHS │ WEAKNESSES │
N │ │ │
T │ What we │ Where we │
E │ do well │ fall short │
R │ │ │
N ├─────────────┼──────────────┤
A │ │ │
L │ What we │ What could │
│ can exploit │ hurt us │
E │ │ │
X │ OPPORTUNI- │ THREATS │
T │ TIES │ │
└─────────────┴──────────────┘
The TOWS Extension (Making SWOT Actionable)
| Combination | Strategy |
|---|---|
| S-O (Strength + Opportunity) | Leverage strengths to capture opportunities |
| W-O (Weakness + Opportunity) | Fix weaknesses to capture opportunities |
| S-T (Strength + Threat) | Use strengths to defend against threats |
| W-T (Weakness + Threat) | Mitigate weaknesses that amplify threats |
Application
Step 1: Fill the Quadrants
## SWOT Analysis: [Product/Feature Name]
**Date:** [Date]
### Strengths (Internal + Helpful)
1. [S1: What competitive advantage do you have?]
2. [S2: What do customers praise?]
3. [S3: What resources/expertise do you uniquely have?]
### Weaknesses (Internal + Harmful)
1. [W1: Where do you consistently lose?]
2. [W2: What do customers complain about?]
3. [W3: What capabilities are you missing?]
### Opportunities (External + Helpful)
1. [O1: What market trends favor you?]
2. [O2: What competitor gaps can you exploit?]
3. [O3: What new segments are emerging?]
### Threats (External + Harmful)
1. [T1: What competitors are gaining ground?]
2. [T2: What regulations could impact you?]
3. [T3: What technology shifts could disrupt you?]
Step 2: Generate TOWS Strategies
## Strategic Actions
### S-O Strategies (Leverage)
- Use [Strength] to capture [Opportunity]: [Specific action]
### W-O Strategies (Improve)
- Fix [Weakness] to capture [Opportunity]: [Specific action]
### S-T Strategies (Defend)
- Use [Strength] to counter [Threat]: [Specific action]
### W-T Strategies (Avoid)
- Address [Weakness] before [Threat] amplifies it: [Specific action]
Quality Rubric
| Dimension | 0 | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balance | Only S and O | All 4, but S>W | All 4 roughly equal (honest) |
| Specificity | Generic ("good team") | Named but vague | Evidence-backed specifics |
| External Grounding | Opinions only | Some market context | PESTEL + competitive intel |
| Actionability | Matrix only | SWOT only | SWOT + TOWS strategies |
| Honesty | Weaknesses hidden | Acknowledged but softened | Unflinching self-assessment |
Common Pitfalls
Pitfall 1: Strengths Outnumber Weaknesses 5:1
Fix: If you can't list as many weaknesses as strengths, you're doing it wrong. The value is in the honest assessment.
Pitfall 2: SWOT Without Action
Fix: SWOT without TOWS strategies is just a list. Always generate strategic actions by connecting quadrants.
References
Related Skills
skills/strategy/pestel-analysis/SKILL.md— External analysis feeds O and T quadrantsskills/discovery/company-research/SKILL.md— Competitor research for threatsskills/strategy/positioning-statement/SKILL.md— Strengths inform positioning
Skill type: Component Domain: Strategy & Vision