Understanding SWOT Analysis with Leantime's Template

Created by Marcel Folaron,
Last Updated: 27 Oct 2023 at 03:55 PM by Marcel Folaron

In the dynamic world of business and project management, having a clear understanding of your project’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats is crucial for making informed decisions and achieving success. This article serves as a guide to help you effectively use Leantime's SWOT analysis template to help you improve your project planning, reduce risk, and increase overall project success.

What is SWOT Analysis?

SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. SWOT Analysis is essentially a project management contingency plan. It considers potential problems and opportunities that may arise throughout your project providing a comprehensive view of your project’s current position. Strengths and weaknesses refer to internal factors, representing the project’s advantages and areas for improvement. Opportunities and threats, on the other hand, focus on external factors, highlighting potential challenges and avenues for growth.

The Process

To begin your analysis, navigate to Leantime’s SWOT Analysis template. If you’re not familiar with Leantime’s Blueprints feature, read more here. 



You will see a 2x2 grid with each of the four areas corresponding to a part of the SWOT analysis. Begin filling out each part of the grid by yourself or with your team. Here are some considerations for each area:

Strengths: Identify key parts of the project that make it easier for you to succeed. These could be engaged customers, extensive project management software, an experienced team, or an extensive project description.

Weaknesses: Acknowledge factors that may cause challenges. These could look like limited experience working as a team, team members who aren't familiar with the project, confusion over project progress, or lack of resources or project funding.

Opportunities: Explore factors that could move your project forward, both existing untapped opportunities and potential future possibilities. 

Threats: Consider potential risks to your project, whether they are existing or anticipated. These could look like a supplier or vendor going out of business, unexpected team absences, or rising cost of resources.

Once the SWOT analysis is complete, it's essential to analyze and prioritize the identified factors. Consider the significance and impact of each item on your project’s strategic goals and objectives. Focus on those strengths that provide a competitive edge and can be leveraged to seize opportunities. Similarly, address the weaknesses that may hinder progress and mitigate potential threats by developing strategies to minimize their impact.

The true value of a SWOT analysis lies in transforming insights into actionable strategies. Remember that strategies should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) to ensure their successful implementation.

Updated on: 28/05/2024