Part of Lesson Plan: Let's Do a SWOT analysis and Gather Data!

Activity Overview / Details

After the students have had a few minutes to write our catering company's strength, I get their attention and say, "OK, let's talk about our weaknesses, now.  Don't worry if you haven't finished listing all of our strengths, we'll have time to add to it when we put together the final draft, and there's a good chance that some of you will think of more strengths as we continue writing our business plan. 

What did Ms. Olsen say that some people refer to weaknesses as? I call on students at random. Hopefully one of the first answers will be "areas of opportunity".  Right, I say, areas where we might need to "shore up" that opportunity, so that, even if we can't move it to a strength, at least we can recognize it and do our best to minimize it.

I go to the board, and underneath where I had listed some of our strengths, I write "weaknesses", and ask the students if they can think of any.  Some of the responses should be...

"we have to follow the school's "Healthy Food Plan"

"we don't have very much experience"

"students can go off-campus for lunch"

After I've written a few responses, I tell  teams to take a few moments to talk with your partner and write down a few of the "weaknesses"  you think our catering company might have.  I give them a few minutes to write "weaknesses" in their rough draft.  I walk among the students, guiding and advising.