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SWOT Analysis in Community Organization

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The SWOT analysis has been utilized in community work as a tool to identify positive and negative factors within organizations, communities, and the broader society that promote or inhibit successful implementation of social services and social change efforts [1]. It is used as a preliminary resource, assessing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in a community served by a nonprofit or community organization[2]. This organizing tool is best used in collaboration with community workers and/or community members before developing goals and objectives for a program design or implementing an organizing strategy.The SWOT analysis is a part of the planning for social change process and will not provide a strategic plan if used by itself. After a SWOT analysis is completed a social change organization can turn the SWOT list into a series of recommendations to consider before developing a strategic plan[3].

one example of a SWOT Analysis used in community organizing
A simple SWOT Analysis used in Community Organizing

Strengths and Weaknesses: These are the internal factors within an organization.

  • Human resources [1]
  • Finances [4]
  • Internal advantages/disadvantages of the Organization [1]
  • Physical resources [1]
  • Experiences including what has worked or has not worked in the past [4]

Opportunities and Threats: These are external factors stemming from community or societal forces.

  • Trends (new research) [4]
  • Society’s cultural, political, and economic ideology [4]
  • Funding sources [1]
  • Current events [1]
  • Societal oppression [1]

Although the SWOT analysis was originally designed as an organizational method for business and industries, it has been replicated in various community work as a tool for identifying external and internal support to combat internal and external opposition.[1]. The SWOT analysis is necessary to provide direction to the next stages of the change process </ref> The SWOT analysis is necessary to provide direction to the next stages of the change process[5]. It has been utilized by community organizers and community members to further social justice in the context of Social Work Social Work practice.

Application in Community Organization

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Elements to Consider

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Elements to consider in a SWOT analysis include understanding the community that which a particular organization is working with. This can be done via public forums, listening campaigns, and informational interviews. Data collection will help inform the community members and workers when developing the SWOT analysis. A needs and assets assessment are tooling that can be used in order to identify the needs and existing resources of the community. When these assessments are done and data has been collected, an analysis of the community can be made which will inform the SWOT analysis[1].

Steps for Implementation

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A SWOT analysis is best developed in a group setting such as a work or community meeting. A facilitator can conduct the meeting by first explaining what a SWOT analysis is as well as identifying the meaning of each term[1].

One way of facilitating the development of a SWOT analysis includes developing an example SWOT with the larger group then separating each group into smaller teams to present to the larger group after set amount of time[1]. This allows for individuals, who may be silenced in a larger group setting, to contribute. Once the allotted time is up, the facilitator may record all the factors of each group onto a large document such as a poster board and then the large group, as a collective, can go work through each threat and weaknesses to explore options that may be used to combat negative forces with the strengths and opportunities present within the organization and community[1]. A SWOT meeting allows participants to creatively brainstorm, identify obstacles and strategize possibly solutions to these limitations.

When to use SWOT

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The use of a SWOT analysis by a community organization are as follows: to to organize information, provide insight into barriers[6] that may be present while engaging in social change processes, and identify strengths available that can be activated to counteract these barriers.

A SWOT analysis can be used to:

  • Explore new solutions to problems [1]
  • Identify barriers that will limit goals/objectives [1]
  • Decide on direction that will be most effective [1]
  • Reveal possibilities and limitations for change[1]
  • To revise plans to best navigate systems, communities, and organizations
  • As a brainstorming and recording device as a means of communication[6]
  • To enhance “credibility of interpretation” to be utilized in presentation to leaders or key supporters. [2]

Benefits

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The SWOT analysis in Social Work practice is beneficial because it helps organizations decide whether or not an objective is obtainable and therefore enables organizations to set achievable goals, objectives, and steps to further the social change or community development effort[7]. It enables organizers to take visions and produce practical and efficient outcomes in order to effect long-lasting change, and it helps organizations gather meaningful information in order to maximize their potential [7]. Completing a SWOT analysis is a useful process regarding the consideration of key organizational priorities, such as gender and cultural diversity, and fundraising objectives[8]).

Limitations

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Critiques include the misuse of the SWOT analysis as a technique that can be quickly designed without critical thought leading to a misrepresentation of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats within an organizations internal and external surroundings[9]]. Another limitation includes the development of a SWOT analysis simply to defend previously decided goals and objectives. This misuse leads to limitations on brainstorming possibilites and "real" identification of barriers. This misue also places the organization’s interest above the well being of the community. Further, a SWOT analysis should be developed as a collaborative with a variety of contributions made by participants including community members. The design of a SWOT analysis by one or two community workers is limiting to the realities of the forces specifically external factors, and devalues the possible contributions of community members[6] .

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Community Toolbox: SWOT analysis". Retrieved 02.22.2014. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ a b Westhues, Anne (2001). "A SWOT analysis of social work education in Canada". Social Work Education: The International Journal. 20 (1): 35–56. doi:10.1080/02615470020028364. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) Cite error: The named reference "social work" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Our Community". Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d "SWOT Analysis". Mind Tools. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  5. ^ Birkenmaier, Julie (2001). The Practice of Generalist Social Work. New York, NY: Routledge.
  6. ^ a b c Chermack, Thomas J. (December 2007). "The Use of and Misuse of SWOT analysis and implications for HRD professionals". Human Resource Development International. 10 (4): 383–399. doi:10.1080/13678860701718760. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b Quincy, Ronald. "SWOT Analysis: Raising capacity of your organization". Rutgers School of Social Work. Retrieved 02/25/2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. ^ "The Change Agency". Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  9. ^ Koch, Adam (2000). "SWOT does not need to be recalled: It needs to be enhanced". Swineburne University of Technology.
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