---
title: "SWOT analysis"
subject: "ICT Project Management"
chapter: 7
key: "semester_7/ict_project_management:swot-analysis"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/swot-analysis
site: BCT Engineering
---

# SWOT analysis

ICT Project Management · Chapter 7: Project Integration Management

- Asked in: year not given
- Video: [How to Conduct Swot and Pestle Analysis | Talent and Skills HuB](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmxYKA9Lge8) — Talent and Skills HuB
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/swot-analysis
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/ict_project_management/chapter-7

## Question

Explain SWOT analysis.

## Short answer

SWOT analysis identifies internal Strengths and Weaknesses and external Opportunities and Threats. It supports project selection, risk identification, and charter development by matching strengths to opportunities and preparing for threats.

## Answer

**SWOT analysis** is a strategic planning technique that examines the **S**trengths, **W**eaknesses, **O**pportunities and **T**hreats related to an organisation or project. In project management it is used while developing the charter, project selection and risk identification, to understand the internal and external position of the project.

- **Internal factors**: strengths and weaknesses (within the organisation or project).
- **External factors**: opportunities and threats (outside the organisation).

```text
            Helpful          Harmful
Internal | Strengths     |  Weaknesses   |
External | Opportunities |  Threats      |
```

#### Components
| Element | Meaning | Example (software firm) |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Internal advantages | Skilled developers, good client record |
| Weaknesses | Internal limits | Small team, little capital |
| Opportunities | External chances | Government e-governance programmes, growth in digital payment |
| Threats | External dangers | Large foreign competitors, rapid technology change, policy changes |

#### Steps
1. Define the objective (project or organisation).
2. List internal strengths and weaknesses.
3. List external opportunities and threats.
4. Compare and match: use strengths to take opportunities, reduce weaknesses, counter threats.
5. Develop strategies and decisions.

#### Uses in project management
- Evaluate whether to take up a proposed project (project selection).
- Identify risks (threats and weaknesses) and opportunities.
- Support planning of strategy and resources.
- Provide input to the business case and charter.

#### Advantages and limits
- Simple and cheap; encourages team discussion.
- But it is subjective, produces lists without priority, and may oversimplify.

**Example:** A company evaluating a mobile wallet project notes a strength (existing payment expertise), weakness (limited marketing), opportunity (rising smartphone use) and threat (banks' own apps).

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. In SWOT, which pair are internal factors?
   A. Strengths and weaknesses
   B. Opportunities and threats
   C. Strengths and opportunities
   D. Weaknesses and threats
   Answer: A. Strengths and weaknesses lie within the organisation or project; opportunities and threats are external. (Key point: Internal vs external)

2. A new government e-governance programme that creates demand for a software firm is a:
   A. Strength
   B. Opportunity
   C. Weakness
   D. Threat
   Answer: B. It is an external, helpful factor, so it is an opportunity. (Key point: Classification)

3. In the compare-and-match step, what is done with strengths?
   A. Ignored
   B. Converted into weaknesses
   C. Used to take opportunities and counter threats
   D. Used only for budgeting
   Answer: C. Strengths are matched against opportunities and threats to build strategies. (Key point: Using results)

4. Which is a limitation of SWOT analysis?
   A. It is very expensive
   B. It needs complex mathematics
   C. It cannot be used in project selection
   D. It is subjective and gives unprioritised lists
   Answer: D. SWOT is cheap and simple but subjective and lists items without priority. (Key point: Limits)

## Related in other subjects

- [SWOT analysis of wind power in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fpower_plant_design%3Awind-swot-nepal) — Power Plant Design, chapter 1
- [Short note: SWOT analysis](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aswot-analysis-note) — Project Engineering, chapter 2