SWOT Analysis
SWOT Analysis is an ideation warm-up exercise for reflection and learning: it helps participants reflect on experience and turn observations into learning.
How to run it
- Before the meeting, write the phrase “Desired End State” and draw a picture of what it might look like on a piece of flip-chart paper.
- At the bottom left of the quadrant, write the word “WEAKNESSES” and draw a picture depicting that concept. Ask the players again to take 5-10 minutes to quietly generate ideas about weaknesses around the desired end state and write them on sticky notes.
- At the top right of the quadrant, write the word “OPPORTUNITIES” and draw a picture. Ask the players to take 5-10 minutes to write ideas about opportunities on sticky notes.
- At the bottom right of the quadrant, write the word “THREATS” and draw a picture depicting that concept. Ask the players to use this last set of 5-10 minutes to generate ideas about perceived threats and write them on sticky notes.
- questions, like “What if your competition didn’t exist?” and “How does this threat have the potential to make the organization stronger?”
- . Before the meeting, write the phrase “Desired End State” and draw a picture of what it might look like on a piece of flip-chart paper.
- . At the bottom left of the quadrant, write the word “WEAKNESSES” and draw a picture depicting that concept. Ask the players again to take 5-10 minutes to quietly generate ideas about weaknesses around the desired end state and write them on sticky notes.
- . At the top right of the quadrant, write the word “OPPORTUNITIES” and draw a picture. Ask the players to take 5-10 minutes to write ideas about opportunities on sticky notes.
- . At the bottom right of the quadrant, write the word “THREATS” and draw a picture depicting that concept. Ask the players to use this last set of 5-10 minutes to generate ideas about perceived threats and write them on sticky notes.
- Dividing your analysis into these four quadrants helps clarify the existing forces that will affect your organization’s future.
Run this exercise live
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What participants need now
Materials:
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Prompts to use +
Before the meeting, write the phrase “Desired End State” and draw a picture of what it might look like on a piece of flip-chart paper.
At the bottom left of the quadrant, write the word “WEAKNESSES” and draw a picture depicting that concept. Ask the players again to take 5-10 minutes to quietly generate ideas about weaknesses around the desired end state and write them on sticky notes.
At the top right of the quadrant, write the word “OPPORTUNITIES” and draw a picture. Ask the players to take 5-10 minutes to write ideas about opportunities on sticky notes.
At the bottom right of the quadrant, write the word “THREATS” and draw a picture depicting that concept. Ask the players to use this last set of 5-10 minutes to generate ideas about perceived threats and write them on sticky notes.
questions, like “What if your competition didn’t exist?” and “How does this threat have the potential to make the organization stronger?”
. Before the meeting, write the phrase “Desired End State” and draw a picture of what it might look like on a piece of flip-chart paper.
Run this with your AI assistant +
Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.
Adapt this exercise for my exact room. Exercise: SWOT Analysis. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: Before the meeting, write the phrase “Desired End State” and draw a picture of what it might look like on a piece of flip-chart paper.; At the bottom left of the quadrant, write the word “WEAKNESSES” and draw a picture depicting that concept. Ask the players again to take 5-10 minutes to quietly generate ideas about weaknesses around the desired end state and write them on sticky notes.; At the top right of the quadrant, write the word “OPPORTUNITIES” and draw a picture. Ask the players to take 5-10 minutes to write ideas about opportunities on sticky notes.; At the bottom right of the quadrant, write the word “THREATS” and draw a picture depicting that concept. Ask the players to use this last set of 5-10 minutes to generate ideas about perceived threats and write them on sticky notes.. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.
Origin unverified
- Where we observed it: The strongest current observations come from Gamestorming; aggregators are listed as additional observations, not origin proof. (6 sources observed, including Gamestorming, Mural, Parabol, Miro, Workshopr.)
- What that means: we track where an exercise has been observed in public sources. We do not claim to know who created it, or how popular it is.
- No efficacy claims: appearing in this library is not a claim that the exercise is proven effective. Facilitator judgment and context decide whether it works for a given room.
- Corrections: if you have evidence of an earlier or more accurate source, read our methodology and trust boundary and tell us.