S ~ Strengths
W ~ Weaknesses
O ~ Opportunities
T ~ Threats
When it comes to understanding your firm’s business model, the SWOT analysis is amongst a plethora of stock-in-trade but highly maneuverable tools at your disposal. That said it never ceases to amaze me how few firms have taken the time and or trouble to analyse the likely investment in a new practice area using a SWOT analysis. Perhaps it is too simplistic but complex doesn’t abet better and if anything knowing where you stand in the line of competition is invaluable.