SWOTAssessment of the Information Technology in a Public/nonprofit Organization I HAVE ATTACHED A FEW ARTICLES TO HELP WITH THIS ASSIGNMENT As stated in the syllabus, you are expected to select a pub

Huamin Research Center, School of Social Work, Rutgers University China Philanthropy Research Institute, Beijing Normal University Huamin Philanthropy Brochure Series – 2 6 H S W H P E H U SWOT Analysis Raising Capacity of Your Organization Ronald Quincy, Shuang Lu, and Chien - Chung Huang WHAT is SWOT ?  SWOT is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, W eak- nesses, O pportunities, and Threats involved in a project, organization, or in a business venture.  Strengths are aspects or characteristics of the business, or project teams that give it an advantage over others;  W eaknesses are aspects or characteristics that place the organization at a disadvantage relative to others ;  O pportunities are internal and external prospects that can improve organi- zation’s performance within the context;  T hreats are internal and external influencing factors in the environment that could cause trouble for the function or project.  SWOT focuses on internal and external factors. - Internal factors may include: Personnel, finance, fundraising capa- bilities, and board performance , etc. - External factors may include: Economic climate, technological changes, legislation, social culture changes, competitors , etc.  SWOT can be used in business corporations, governmental departments, and nonprofit organizations.  SWOT can be performed for business planning, strategic planning, competi- tor evaluation, marketing development, and research reports. 2 WHY Conduct SWOT ? SWOT analysis…  Helps you focus on your strengths, minimize weaknesses and threats, take the greatest possible advantage of opportunities, and become outstanding in competi- tions.  Helps you determine whether the objective is attainable; therefore, set achievable goals and objectives for the organization, as well as subsequent steps.  Helps you dedicate to your mission, fulfill the vision, adjust to social context, achieve strategic goals, develop effective action plans, and conduct objective eval- uations.  Helps you gather meaningful information from your strengths, weaknesses, op- portunities, and threats), in order to maximize the benefits of your evaluation and advantage. Understand Your Organization Take the Greatest Opportunities Available to You 3 WHEN to Conduct a SWOT Analysis? Typical Program Stages for Nonprofits Stage One: Vision - Imagine and Inspire Stage Two: Emergence - Found and Frame Stage Three: Growth and Maturity - Grounding and Growth Stage Four: Maturity and Sustainability - Produce and Sustain Stage Five: Renewal - Review and Renew A SWOT Analysis can be conducted in Any Stage! During the life cycle, a SWOT Analysis can be used to: * Fulfill an organization’s mission and vision * Facilitate an organization’s emergence and growth * Improve sustainability * Promote innovation and renewal In every stage, a SWOT helps us answer different questions: * Stage One: Can this dream be realized? * Stage Two: How are we going to pull this off? * Stage Three: How can we build this to be viable? * Stage Four: How can we sustain the momentum? * Stage Five: What do we need to redesign? 4 Conduct a SWOT Analysis Specific Areas of Analysis  What advantages does your organization have?  What do you do better than others?  What unique or lowest -cost resources can you draw upon that others cannot?  What is your organization's unique selling proposition?  What do people in your market see as your strengths?  What factors mean that you "get the sale"?  What could you improve?  What should you avoid?  What factors limit your growth?  What are people in your market likely to see as your weaknesses (challenges)?  What factors may cause you to lose your sale?  What good opportunities can you spot?  What interesting trends are you aware of?  Who can be your partner?  Who can be your potential donor?  How to keep and develop your key stakehold- ers’ interests?  What obstacles are you facing?  Are quality standards or specifications for your job, products or services changing?  Is changing technology challenging your po- sition?  Are changing policies or social context chal- lenging your service area?  Do you have bad debt or cash -flow prob- lems?  Could any of your weaknesses (challenges) seriously affect your business?  What are your competitors doing? What are Your Strengths? What are your Weaknesses? What are your Opportunities? What are Your Threats? 5 Sample Analysis “X Organization” As a nationally famous nonprofit organization, “X Organization” works to provide books for poor children in the US and developing countries. “X Organization” has been existing for more than 50 years at a town in western America. It collects new books provided by book suppliers, and secondhand books donated by public, and delivers books to poor children in the US and oversea. “X Organization” accepts national and international applications for these books through its website and mailing. The applicants may include schools, education agencies, families, or individuals. Its programs are funded by government grants, public and private donations. “X” operates primarily through volunteer efforts. It has a 14 -member board of trustees, an 8 -member advisory board, and 4 fulltime, paid staff, who are mostly female Caucasians. 1. Programs and Services 2. Staffing and Management Strengths:  Volunteering Pro- grams  Reputation through- out the United States  Donations Made Na- tionally and Interna- tionally  Advanced Online Application System Weaknesses:  Limited Funding  Long Waiting List  Increasing Costs for Book Suppliers  Some Programs are Not Well - known Opportunities:  Professional Grant - Writer  Student Volunteers  International Book Donations  Partnering with New Book Suppliers Threats:  Loss of Funding Support  Increase of Appli- cations  Competitor Organ- izations Strengths:  Management Skills  Friendly Working Atmosphere  Efficient Staff  Committed Volun- teers Weaknesses:  Insufficient Staff with Too Much Work  Staff Overworked Opportunities:  Recruit New Vol- unteers  Establish an Intern- ship Program  Develop a Staff Succession Plan Threats:  Staff Burnout  Loss of Staff and Volunteers 6 Strengths:  Supportive and Re- sponsive Board Members  Diverse Board Members regarding to Age, Sex, Social Background, etc. Weaknesses:  Limited Involve- ment of Advisory Board Members  Board Members  Only from Local Area  Insufficient Fund- raising Activities Opportunities:  Recruit New Board Members  Develop an Effec- tive Advisory Board  Promote Better Un- derstanding of Board’s Fundrais- ing Responsibilities Threats:  Commitment of Becoming a Board Member  Turnover of Key Members 3. Board Governance Strengths:  Well Developed Website  IT Support  Control of Online Book Applicant and Supplier Data- base Weaknesses:  Outdated Computer and Phone Systems  Server Back -Up Issues Opportunities:  Upgrade Hardware and Telephone Sys- tems  Recruit Profession- al Website Main- tainers Threats:  High Expenditures  Hacking Possibili- ties  Server Crashing 4. Technology and Equipment Sample Analysis “X Organization” 7 Identify Every Element of Your Organization Tick in cells:  Will you consider your program, activities and services as strengths/ weaknesses/ opportunities/ threats?  Do you see your programs, activities and services as both strengths and weakness- es?  Are there any opportunities as well as threats in your programs, activities and ser- vices?  Do you have any competitors (external threats) regarding to your programs, activ- ities, and services? 8 Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Internal Threats External Threats Programs, Activi- ties and Services Education, Train- ing and Work- shops General Operation and Staffing Technology and Equipment Office Location, Facilities and Ven- ue Marketing and Public Relations Executive Man- agement Leadership and Governance Customer Base 9 Conduct Your Own SWOT Analysis Analyze Your Organization in Different Aspects Strengths:  Weaknesses (Challenges):  Opportunities:  Threats (Barriers):  1. Programs and Services Strengths:  Weaknesses (Challenges):  Opportunities:  Threats (Barriers):  2. Staffing and Management 10 *Besides the aspects mentioned above, what other areas can you think of in terms of your own organization? 3. Board Governance 4. Technology and Equipment Strengths:  Weaknesses (Challenges):  Opportunities:  Threats (Barriers):  Strengths:  Weaknesses (Challenges):  Opportunities:  Threats (Barriers):  Analyze Your Organization in Different Aspects 11 Final Thoughts 1. How can the organization maximize and take advantage of its strengths? 2. How can the organization minimize or overcome weakness- es? 3. How can the organization maximize or take advantage of opportunities? 4. How can the organization minimize or overcome threats? 12 Key References Aaker, D. A. (1995). Strategic market management (4th ed.). New York: Wiley. Armstrong, M. (2006). A handbook of human resource management practice (10th ed.). London: Kogan Page. Chandler, A. D. (1962). Strategy and structure: chapters in the history of the industrial enterprise . Cambridge: M.I.T. Press. Child, J., & Kieser, A. (1981). The development of organizations over time. The handbook of organizational design , 1, 28 -64 Donald, L., John, P., & Shawn, C. (2003). ORGANIZATIONAL LIFE CYCLE: A FIVE - STAGE EMPIRICAL SCALE. International Journal of Organizational Analysis , 11 (4), 339 -354. Hill, T. & R. Westbrook (1997). "SWOT Analysis: It’s Time for a Product Recall". Long Range Planning 30 (1): 46 –52. Humphrey, Albert (2005). SWOT Analysis for Management Consulting. SRI Alumni News- letter. Retrieved from SRI International. Kimberly, J. R., & Miles, R. H. (1981). The organizational life cycle . San Francisco: Jossey - Bass Publ. Object Oriented and Multi -Scale Image Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats - A Review. Journal of Computer Science 4 (9): 706 -712. Jan 2008. Pickton, D., & Wright, S. (1998). What's SWOT in strategic analysis?. Strategic Change , 7 (2), 101 -109. Stacey, R. D. (1993). Strategic management and organizational dynamics . London: Pit- man. SWOT Analysis Raising Capacity of Your Organization Huamin Philanthropy Brochure Series - 2 Huamin Research Center, School of Social Work, Rutgers University 390 George Street, Room 503, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA China Philanthropy Research Institute, Beijing Normal University 19 Xin Jie Kou Wai Street, Room 1003A., Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, China