Topics
SWOT, strategy, marketing plan
Teaching Notes
Please refer teaching suggestions below and to the below video on how the SWOT Excel template works – please share the video with your students as well.
The free Excel SWOT Maker template is available for download here… free-SWOT-maker-Excel-template-2020
Please share this download with your students, or they can download directly from… https://www.marketingstudyguide.com/free-swot-maker-using-excel/
Why the SWOT Template was Developed
In a teaching (and often a corporate) situation, SWOT analysis is often relegate to being a quick group brainstorming technique, rather than being a discussion of what makes up a robust and detailed SWOT. This is a far too simplistic approach to a SWOT, which should come after extensive analysis – not as a substitute for analysis.
Another problem with SWOTs is that they often have quite generic outcomes. This is because students start with a “blank sheet”, not key points to their analysis.
To solve this problem I have designed a simple SWOT generator that runs on a pre-set Excel template, where students can choose from almost 600 possible strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities.
This means that students can get beyond the “building a generic SWOT” to actually working with a more detailed SWOT to start looking at strategic options.
Possible Student In-Class Activities
- Groups can develop a SWOT for a particular firm and then discuss/argue why their approach is different (or better).
- Students can develop SWOT’s for two or more direct competitors and identify WHY their marketing strategies NEED to differ.
- Students can split the SWOT into the four quadrants (with a group working on each quadrant), as a combined class activity
- Students can start with a “blank sheet” first, and then move to the SWOT template to see how more detailed information can greatly assist the development of a SWOT.
- Students work on their completed SWOTs and identify how the firm can use the information to guide and inform their marketing strategy.
How the SWOT Template Works
Related Activities
GE-McKinsey Multi-Factor Excel Template (Teaching Ideas)
Using Gantt Charts: Teaching Tips
Free Gantt Chart Excel Template
