A SWOT analysis enables an organization to inventory its strengths and weaknesses and helps it identify opportunities and threats.
All organizations have strengths; the things they do well. They also have weaknesses that make them vulnerable to changes in environments.
Opportunities that utilize a strength or address a weakness are identifiable if examined realistically.
Threats may surface from inside the organization as well as outside.
SWOT Definitions Strengths Weaknesses (1) What do we do well? (1) What needs to improve? (2) On what unique resources can (2) Where are we vulnerable? we draw? (3) What prohibits us from being (3) What contributes to our as successful a we would like? success? (4) How can we continue to use our strengths? Opportunities (1) What trends are advantageous to us? (2) How can we turn our weaknesses into opportunities?
Threats (1) What things can do us harm? (2) To what threats do our weaknesses expose us?
SWOT, continued
A strength, left unattended, can become a weakness. OR a strength overused may become a weakness. i.e. – (S) School ABC has dozens of state and federal
grants (W) grants expire leaving a financial gap.
Some opportunities can also threaten the organization. i.e. – (O) a state organization donates advanced
technology to ABC School (T) The cost to maintain the technology is prohibitive and could divert funds from necessary operations.
SWOT
Small group task: (1) Identify the strengths and weaknesses you
perceive in the Papillion-LaVista Public Schools. (2) Identify opportunities and threats for the Papillion-LaVista Public Schools. Time Frame: Approximately 50 minutes.
For the Day: June 30, 2014 Examine feedback from the question: what do you think about when you think of PLSD? Review Ahas!! Strengths and Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats Analyze Six Crucial Environments Expectations!!
June 30, continued
Today is your day to be creative, engage each other in dialogue.
Dialogue (from Greek dia-logos) ‘to think together. Everybody has something important to say.
Strengths
Strong community support and supportive families Good students and excellent student services Excellent faculty, administrators and staff – staff climate survey 94% graduation rate Excellent school facilities The breadth and depth of the curriculum and ed opportunities 169 school/business partners Internal and external communications Caring staff Excellent Management of resources The school district (Student population) is growing Technology Location (Metro Area) Professional Learning Communities and team planning
PPLV Strengths, continued Standard Curriculum Extension of community – historical aspect of district Data driven Best practices Student Achievement District always willing to try something new Strong reputation with Military community
Weaknesses (Challenges)
State and Learning Community funding limits resource growth (Finances) The rigor of the academic program needs improvement World Languages (more and more variety) Additional communication needed with school and community groups Drop off and pick up points at elementary schools Parking lots Bus options The student population is increasing Mental health issues impacting student performance and behavior Increase global awareness and global connections for students The challenge of keeping up with technology All students need to be held accountable for their work Additional buildings will be needed (Bond Issues)
PPLV Challenges, continued
Curriculum rigor concerns is it really a lack of communication on the PLSD side to community District brand needs a refresh – Know the perceptions and communicate the reality Student transportation – kids to activities, ROTC, academies Test proficiency verses hours in seat Challenge to let go of programs as we need to free up dollars for new How do you engage people in the process? Teachers do a lot to educate parents on the curriculum – but low turnout… how do we engage? We need to use social media – tap resource more and use more broadly How do you engage minority populations in the process? Planning for land acquisition Boundaries – new middle school where are kids going to go… External boundaries – resolve discussions between districts for community growth
