An IdeaScale Whiteboard facilitator guide for SWOT Analysis Board
The SWOT Analysis board serves as our collaborative platform for executing a comprehensive SWOT analysis. This tool will allow us to systematically capture our ideas, categorize them effectively, and derive meaningful insights into our competitive environment.
Brainstorming Objectives:
- To identify the internal strengths and weaknesses of our organization/project/product.
- To identify the external opportunities and threats facing our organization/project/product.
- To gain a shared understanding of our current situation and potential future challenges.
Total Timing: 60 minutes
Brainstorming Instructions - 40 Minutes
Introduction (10 minutes)
- Welcome participants and thank them for their time.
- Briefly introduce yourself and your role (if relevant).
- Set the context: "Today, we're conducting a SWOT analysis to gain a clearer picture of where we stand and how we can best move forward."
- Explain the purpose and benefits of a SWOT analysis.
- Briefly review the four quadrants: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
Brainstorming Instructions (40 minutes)
- Activity 1: Individual Brainstorming (10 minutes)
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- Ask participants to individually brainstorm ideas for each of the four SWOT categories.
- Instruct them to use the digital sticky notes on the board to capture their ideas. Use different colors for each quadrant.
- Encourage them to be specific and concise.
- Activity 2: Group Sharing and Discussion (20 minutes)
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- Have participants share their ideas one quadrant at a time.
- As ideas are shared, drag and drop the sticky notes to the appropriate quadrant on the SWOT matrix (which you've pre-created on the board).
- Facilitate a discussion to clarify ideas, identify common themes, and address any questions.
- Activity 3: Compare and Contrast categories (30 minutes) (Optional)
- Compare strengths with weaknesses, opportunities and threats in order to identify new approaches. Repeat this brainstorming by comparing the groups opportunities with threats and weaknesses. Continue with the remaining categories.
- Compare strengths with weaknesses, opportunities and threats in order to identify new approaches. Repeat this brainstorming by comparing the groups opportunities with threats and weaknesses. Continue with the remaining categories.
- Activity 4: Prioritization and Action Planning (10 minutes)
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- Use dot voting or another prioritization method to identify the most significant items in each quadrant.
- Briefly discuss potential strategies or actions based on the prioritized items.
Adjourn (10 minutes)
- Summarize the key takeaways from the SWOT analysis.
- Capture any action items or next steps on the board.
- Assign owners to action items (if applicable).
- Thank participants for their contributions.
Tips for Facilitators
- Keep it visual: Use the digital whiteboard effectively to make the process engaging and easy to follow.
- Encourage participation: Ensure everyone has a chance to contribute their ideas.
- Stay focused: Keep the discussion on track and within the allotted time.
- Promote constructive dialogue: Foster an environment where participants feel comfortable sharing their perspectives.
- Capture everything: Ensure all ideas are recorded on the board.
This SWOT analysis framework will help you guide a productive and insightful session. Remember to adapt the timing and activities based on your specific needs and the complexity of the topic. Good luck!