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

Activity Overview / Details

After I've gotten their attention, I say, alright, I'm sure all of the teams have created a very complete, well-thought out, rough draft of the SWOT analysis for our catering company. I am going to collect your drafts, including the Goals and Objectives you wrote in the previous lesson, at the end of the period, so make sure your work is legible, and written in professional and well-structured  sentences.  We have one more element to add to the business plan before we're done today which was mentioned in the video. Does anyone  remember what it might be? Hopefully (particularly since most know that today's lesson is "Let's Do a SWOT Analysis and Gather Some Data") one of the first answers will be "gathering data".

Right I say, and go to the SWOT quadrant on the board, point to the Strengths/Weakness side and ask, does anyone remember what we call the data that we use to support this side?  Hopefully, one of the first answers will be "internal data", and I say, right, and internal data is what you have been collecting this afternoon, conferring with your partner, and trying to determine what you think the company's strengths and weaknesses are.

I then point to the Opportunities and Threats side of the quadrant, and ask, can anyone remember what we call the data we use to support this side?  Hopefully, one of the first answers will be "external data".  Right I said, which means that for each Opportunity and Threat, you should list a way to compile data that will support it.

I point to the "work with campus clubs, sports team" listing under opportunities, and ask, "How would we determine whether this is a viable opportunity?"  Hopefully, one of the first answers will be "we could survey the clubs and teams, to see if they're interested.". Right, I say, that would work, I then point to the "rainy winter will cancel our outside events" and ask, "OK, how would we compile data on this?"  Hopefully, one of the first answers will be "we could check long-range weather forecasts", and I say, right, that would be helpful.

I then say, work with your partner, and spend the rest of the period figuring how to gather data for each of your Opportunities and Threats, and adding it to your rough draft. I also ask them to draw a basic SWOT quadrant for me, with one example under each category, which I will collect with their rough draft at the end of the period..  I walk among the students advising and guiding.