What Is SWOT Analysis

Using Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to Inform OH&S Strategy and Stakeholder Management

Updated March 2025

SWOT Analysis is a strategic planning tool used to evaluate an organisation's internal capabilities and external environment. The acronym stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It provides a structured way to assess performance, stakeholder positioning, and risk exposure—especially in the context of ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) management systems.

SWOT Analysis supports proactive planning by encouraging organisations to align internal resources with external conditions, enhancing resilience, compliance, and strategic execution.

Components of SWOT Analysis

Applying SWOT to OH&S and ISO 45001

In OH&S systems, SWOT helps organisations evaluate how internal culture and external dynamics affect their ability to prevent harm, meet regulatory requirements, and engage stakeholders effectively. It's particularly useful during:

Example: Using SWOT in Stakeholder Analysis

When applied to stakeholder analysis, SWOT can help identify which stakeholder groups present the most value or risk to the organisation’s OH&S goals. For instance, a stakeholder with technical expertise and high engagement may be a strength, while a disengaged regulator could represent a threat.

Benefits of SWOT Analysis

SWOT Analysis helps identify internal capabilities and external risks that affect safety outcomes. It supports compliance, risk planning, and stakeholder alignment within ISO 45001 management systems.

A risk register is reactive and itemised, listing specific hazards and controls. SWOT is broader and strategic, focusing on overall capacity, vulnerability, and opportunity across internal and external contexts.

Yes. SWOT works well alongside PESTLE Analysis, Influence Diagrams and Stakeholder Mapping to provide a complete perspective on risk and opportunity.