Another Gas Station Right Excelsior College Threa

We are to the point in the SWOT process where just about everything is complete, with the exception of the final piece of the puzzle, the threats to your organization. Over the last few modules, you have completed the majority of your SWOT analysis, including covering the basic background information about your organization along with its strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. Now it is time to work on the final major portion of the analysis. This is the area where your organization looks at other companies and organizations and how they might gain advantages or opportunities that could hurt your organization. Threats can come in the form of many things. When you consider this section of your SWOT, think about some of the factors listed in the instructions and really work hard to find some of the things your organization might be able to do in order to alleviate some of these threats! And remember folks, threats can include other issues besides your competition. Some of these threats could be in the form of your employees or the services they provide, as well as new equipment and technology; anything that could result in the organization going backwards is a threat.

For this assignment you will research the threats to your organization and provide a detailed paper on your findings. Consider the factors listed below. Remember the given outline from Module One is there for your use and will continue to be very helpful as we finish up the SWOT. This outline is a great tool for getting your different sections fully completed and researched. Remember this paper on the threats to your organization will become the fifth section of your overall SWOT paper due at the end of Module 8.

Research and thoroughly explain at least TWO major threats to the organization, discuss why these threats are present, and what can be done to either remove or reduce them. Think about some of the examples you see every day as you drive around. For example, how many times do you see one gas station on the corner and another gas station right next door or across the street? This would be considered a threat, since they are competing with each other for customers in that area. What do you do when the other gas station lowers the price of gas by a nickel or now offers a hot food section? These are just a few of the things to consider in this module as you work on the threats to your organization. You should write a minimum of at least one full paragraph for each of the threats presented. For each threat, you need to ensure you use relevant business theories, concepts, and practices that are aligned to support the statements and findings. Note that bullet points are not acceptable.

Each of these threats must come from a force or forces occurring within a dimension of the general environment within the organization’s external environment (keep in mind a threat can stem from more than one dimension within the general environment). Be sure to include in your analysis the relevant dimension of the general environment from which each of these forces is derived.

Factors to consider when you think about company threats:

• An increased number of new companies offering similar products that shift the customer away from the company’s brand.
• The physical environment (Is your building in a growing part of town? Is the bus company cutting routes?).
• Changes in the law and government regulations that drive costs of running the business to increase.
• Future trends in the economy and changes in the age, race, gender, and culture of those you serve in your area.