Implementing the Business Services
Operations Research Event
Module Four:
•IV. Findings and Conclusions of the Study
•A. Strengths of the business’s or organizations website
•B. Weaknesses of the business’s or organization’s website
•C. Provide an analysis of the research and identify your major findings
•D. Based on the analysis, identify strategies to improve the business’s website
Objectives
•Explain the components of a situation analysis.
•Learn how to conduct a SWOT analysis.
•Define competitive advantage and explain its
connection to the SWOT analysis.
•Understand what it means to analyze data.
•Understand the importance of strategic planning.
Explain the components of a situation analysis.
• A situation analysis is sometimes referred to as a SWOT Analysis.
• The business should identify its internal strengths and weaknesses.
– Strengths: What advantages does the company and its website already
possess, relative to other companies and brands?
– Weaknesses: In what areas is the company and its website at a disadvantage,
relative to other companies and brands?
• The business should examine external opportunities and threats.
– Opportunities: What developments and needs in the market might be
addressed by the company’s line and website?
– Threats: What changes in the market might make it harder for the company
and its website to meet customer needs?
SWOT – Things to Consider & the Components
SWOT Analysis
Strengths (internal)
Weaknesses (internal)
Market Share
Reputation
Product / Service Offering
Profit
Employees
Marketing
Technology
Opportunities (external)
Threats (external)
Competitors
Economy
Political / Legal Issues
Resources
Social / Demographic
SWOT – Things to Consider & the Components
SWOT Analysis
Strengths (internal)
Weaknesses (internal)
Internal analysis centers around 3 C’s:
1. Company
2. Customers
3. Competition
Opportunities (external)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Threats (external)
External analysis centers around:
Competitors
Political
Economic
Socio-Cultural
Technological
Define competitive advantage and explain its connection to the SWOT
analysis.
•
Competitive advantage defined: a set of unique features of a company and its products and
services that are perceived by the target market as significant and superior to the
competition.
•
A company needs to know what its strengths and weaknesses are when compared to the
competition.
•
By conducting a SWOT, it can help companies identify weaknesses and prepare for handling
threats or changes in the marketplace.
•
A SWOT can also allow for a business to become more competitive because the SWOT
provides guidance and direction to the business.
Understand what it means to analyze data.
• Data analysis is when you compile, analyze, and interpret the results of the data
collection.
• Look for trends and similarities in your research.
• Consider using spreadsheets, charts, and graphs to analyze your data.
• Look for Patterns, recurring themes, similarities, and differences.
• What did you learn from the research? What kinds of conclusions can you start to
make?
Understand the importance of strategic planning.
• Strategic planning is the process of creating and maintaining a fit
between the company’s objectives and resources and the
evolving market opportunities.
• The goal of strategic planning is long-run profitability and growth.
• A good strategic plan can help protect and grow a company.
• Based on your research analysis, what kind of strategies do you
want to plan for your business services operations project? What
will be your overall objective?
PostNet & DECA – Putting together your SWOT Analysis
• Complete the PostNet SWOT Analysis for the PostNet
Website
• Complete the SWOT Analysis for your business
– After completing the analysis, what are some ways that
PostNet can help you analyze your data?
– What are some ways that PostNet can provide services
to your business to start planning strategies to improve
your business’s website?
Conclusion of Module Four:
IV. Findings and Conclusions
A. Strengths of the business’s or organization’s website
B. Weaknesses of the business’s or organization’s website
C. Provide an analysis of the research and identify your major findings
D. Based on the analysis, identify strategies to improve the business’s website
• Strengths and Weaknesses are INTERNAL Factors when conducting a situation
analysis.
• Opportunities and Threats are EXTERNAL Factors when conducting a situation
analysis.
• After you conduct your SWOT analysis, analyze your data and find ways that your
business can have a competitive advantage in the marketplace – especially through
their website.
• Upon completion of the SWOT and your research, begin to start thinking about
strategies to improve your business’s website.