Research Paper on:
Strategy Concepts

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
as a starting point is a SWOT analysis. In looking at this can also asses who this may help with many aspect of strategic planning. A SWOT analysis is  a tool that can be used to assess the position of a company, looking at the environment, the way the company operates within that environment and identifying factors that could  help the business in the future, such as maximising resources. This is a planning tool and may be used to examine the company as a whole. Alternatively, it may be  used to analyse the position of a single department, or even to consider the position of a single brand or product (Wilson, 2004). SWOT is short for strengths,  weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Each sector can be analysed individually, but there is interaction, for this reason the tool may often be presented as a 2x2 matrix, with strengths above  the opportunities, as opportunities will build on strengths, likewise weaknesses are above threats, as weaknesses could become a threat. It is sometimes argued that strengths and weaknesses should have an  internal focus or micro environmental focus, whilst opportunities and threats should be focused on the external or macro environment (Wilson, 2004). However, when conducted in a systematic and logical manner  all will all each of the SWOT analysis factors should have the internal and external factors considers, as well as the factors of their rivals. For example, the strengths and  weaknesses of a company need to be considered in the context of the competitive environment and the characteristics of the competition. Data needs to be collected internally and externally, from  official and unofficial sources and applied to the matrix developed. When looking at strengths we are looking for the best points of a business. These may be in terms