Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.

Help me prepare and run the exercise below. First ask for my participant count, time, setting, access needs and intended result. Check these against the stated limits. Use the supplied rules and materials. Explain any proposed changes before using them, and label them as adaptations. Do not invent source claims or require personal disclosure. Give me one step at a time when I say start. I manage the people, physical activity and clock; do not claim to observe the room. Ask me what happened before choosing a next step.

Reference revision: ef81edf3b6556195b0528c0bf1386ba941d57c62298d83ec8f8bd7af4f210b68

# SWOT Analysis

Participants evaluate internal strengths and weaknesses alongside external opportunities and threats relative to a target objective. They write observations on sticky notes, cluster themes, vote on priorities, and discuss implications.

**Time:** 75 minutes. Gamestorming source recommends 1 to 2 hours. UWT structures this run sheet as an exact 75-minute agenda.
**People:** 5 to 20. Individual silent generation followed by small-cluster sorting and structured full-group discussion.

## Choose this exercise

**Purpose:** Map and prioritize internal and external factors that influence reaching a specific desired end state.
**Use it when:** Use when kicking off a strategic initiative, launching a project phase, or diagnosing barriers to a team goal.
**Skip it when:** Skip when the team has not yet defined a clear objective, or when immediate granular task planning is required instead of strategic assessment.

## Materials and tools

- 5 sheets of flip-chart paper
- Blue painter's tape or wall adhesive
- Sticky notes (at least 2 pads of 3x3 inch notes per participant, plus 2 extra pads for transcription in hybrid setups)
- Broad-tip markers (1 per participant, plus 2 extra markers for transcription in hybrid setups)
- Dot stickers for voting (8 small dots per participant)
- Collection box for optional anonymous note submission

## Before participants arrive

1. Post one flip-chart sheet labeled Desired End State with a short description and simple sketch of the target outcome.
2. Arrange four flip-chart sheets into a 2x2 grid on a wall. Label top-left Strengths, top-right Opportunities, bottom-left Weaknesses, and bottom-right Threats. Add a simple illustrative icon to each.
3. Place markers, sticky notes, and dot stickers at participant tables.
4. Place the collection box on a side table near the wall grid.

## Say this to open

Today we are evaluating our current position relative to our desired end state: [read target statement from poster]. We will examine internal forces: what we do well and where we struggle, along with external forces: outside opportunities and risks. You will write one idea per sticky note in silence, then we will group them together to see our strategic picture.

## How to run it

### 1. Introduce target and generate internal forces (10 minutes)

Read the opening script (2 minutes). Point to Strengths (internal assets) and give an example: 'experienced support staff.' Give 4 minutes for participants to write silent notes. Next, point to Weaknesses (internal friction or gaps) and give an example: 'outdated customer database.' Give 4 minutes for silent note writing. Rules: one idea per note, legible handwriting.

### 2. Generate external forces (10 minutes)

Spend 1 minute introducing Opportunities (external trends or market changes). Give an example: 'new regulations require our exact service.' Give 4 minutes for silent note writing. Spend 1 minute introducing Threats (external competitors or disruptions). Give an example: 'supply costs rise 20 percent.' Give 4 minutes for silent note writing.

### 3. Post and affinity cluster (30 minutes)

Participants place notes near matching quadrants or in the box. For groups over 8, split into 4 sub-teams to cluster one assigned quadrant simultaneously (15 minutes). For 8 or fewer, cluster all quadrants together sequentially. In the final 15 minutes, have sub-teams present headings, or review all headings together in small groups. Write approved category titles on the charts.

### 4. Dot vote priorities (10 minutes)

Distribute 8 dot stickers to each person: 2 for Strengths, 2 for Weaknesses, 2 for Opportunities, and 2 for Threats. Participants walk along the wall and place dots on the cluster headings most critical to achieving the desired end state. After voting, circle the top-voted clusters in each quadrant.

### 5. Reflect and debrief (15 minutes)

Gather the full group to review circled clusters. Facilitate conversation using the debrief questions. Focus discussion on how top strengths defend against threats and how priority weaknesses can be addressed in upcoming work plans. Take three participant comments per question to fit the time.


## Debrief questions

- Which weakness, if resolved quickly, removes the largest obstacle to reaching our target?
- How can our strongest identified asset defend us against the highest-voted threat?
- Which external opportunity best matches what our team already does well?

**Finished output:** A prioritized four-quadrant wall map displaying clustered internal strengths, internal weaknesses, external opportunities, and external threats that participants chose to submit.

## Remote

Set up a shared digital whiteboard with four labeled quadrants and a prominent objective banner at the top. Give participants quiet time to type virtual sticky notes. Facilitate drag-and-drop clustering on screen while reading items aloud. Use built-in voting features or digital dot shapes (2 per quadrant per person) for prioritization. Run debrief over audio or video.

## Hybrid

In-person participants write physical sticky notes while remote participants write on a mirrored digital board. A dedicated co-facilitator is required to bridge the formats. The co-facilitator uses dedicated spare sticky notes and markers to transcribe remote notes onto the physical wall and replicates physical clusters back onto the digital board. Share a live camera feed of the physical wall. Remote and local participants cast their 8 votes synchronously on their respective surfaces.

## Access and participation choices

- Participants may dictate ideas to a partner or use digital whiteboard text tools.
- Notes can be placed anonymously into the collection box to protect honest reporting of weaknesses.
- Anyone may choose to pass on writing notes or speaking during the debrief without explanation; passing participants still take part in reviewing and voting.

## If the session gets stuck

**Participants confuse internal weaknesses with external threats.**

Remind the group that strengths and weaknesses exist inside the team's direct control, whereas opportunities and threats exist outside in the broader market.

**People hesitate to post genuine team weaknesses.**

Remind everyone that weaknesses identify systemic needs rather than personal blame, and encourage depositing notes into the collection box anonymously.


## Terms used here

- Affinity clustering: Grouping notes that share similar concepts or themes to reveal overall patterns.
- Desired End State: The specific objective or target outcome the team aims to achieve.

## Sources and adaptation

Observed in Gamestorming and Mural public materials. Gamestorming attributes the original SWOT framework to Albert Humphrey.

Retained Gamestorming's quadrant layout, pre-meeting Desired End State anchor, S-W-O-T generation sequence, affinity clustering, and dot voting. Tightened Step 3 text to stay well under the 90-word limit while clarifying review flow for both large and small groups. Adjusted Step 5 debrief instruction to align cleanly with debrief questions without prescriptive requirements. Maintained 75-minute structured timing and hybrid bridging plan.

[Gamestorming](http://gamestorming.com/swot-analysis/)

[Gamestorming](https://gamestorming.com/swot-analysis/)

[Gamestorming](https://gamestorming.com/swot-analysis)

[Mural](https://www.mural.co/templates/swot-analysis)

Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/swot-analysis/