The SWOT analysis template, which refers to strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, is an effective business tool commonly used to consider internal and external issues.
The template includes a list of the most common types of internal and external issues within the context of your organisation, and a lookup column to the Controls list enables you to demonstrate how you mitigate Weaknesses and Threats and enhance Strengths and Opportunities.
Why you need to Understand the organisation and its context for your ISO Management System (MS) using a SWOT Analysis
Clause 4.1 of the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management standard requires you to understand the organisation and its context.
Understanding the organisation's context requires you to monitor and review both internal and external issues that could have a positive or negative impact on your QMS and Strategic Objectives. Internal context considers topics such as values, culture, knowledge and performance of the organisation. External context considers legal, technological, competitive, market, cultural, social, and economic issues.
How ISOvA MS software helps you determine the S.W.O.T Analysis
The ISOvA IMS Toolbox provides practical business tools commonly used for considering internal and external issues. The SWOT analysis template, which refers to the strength and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, includes a list of the most common types of internal and external issues within the context of your organisation—lookup columns to your Controls to avoid duplication and enable hyperlinks to drill down for further information. List data can be filtered and sorted to provide management reports by Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.
SWOT Analysis on the ISOvA IMS Toolbox
The headings below match the columns provided in your IMS Toolbox:
Title
Strengths & Weaknesses
The Strengths and Weaknesses columns identify the internal issues within the context of the organisation and MS. For example, this could include:
Core values that support your vision
Reputation for quality
Employee skills and knowledge
Resources and scalability
Cashflow and financial status
Service levels and performance
Systems and consistency of process outputs
Opportunities
This column identifies the external Opportunities within the context of the organisation and MS. For example, this could include:
ISO standards
New markets
Strategic plans
Threats
This column identifies the external issues within the context of the organisation and MS. For example, this could include:
Political – Considers government rules, policies, frameworks, etc.
Economical – Considers economic growth, inflation, minimum wage, etc.
Social – Considers cultural expectations, career attitudes, population growth, etc.
Technological – Considers latest innovations, robotics, cloud computing, etc.
Legal - Considers legislation and contractual issues
It would be best if you addressed any significant threats and opportunities in your Risks and Opportunities register.
Controlling the issues identified by the context of the organisation
This column lookups to the Controls list enabling you to easily select all the controls in place that ensure you address the issues identified by the organisation's context in your MS. For example, maintaining employee skills and knowledge could include:
Induction Process
Training Programme
Documented Operational Procedures
Record of Roles & Responsibilities
Internal Audits
Next Step…
Having determined roles, responsibilities, and authorities for your ISO MS, you can now move to the next step:
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