Personal SWOT Analysis for Business Capstone Course Assessment

This document is a SWOT analysis conducted by a student for a business capstone course. The analysis begins with an introduction emphasizing the importance of self-evaluation for achieving goals and the role of SWOT analysis in identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The student then details their strengths, including a supportive family and friends, dual degrees in accounting and business, fast learning ability, and organizational skills. Weaknesses are identified as a lack of personal confidence, anxiety, and a perceived need for more professional certifications. Opportunities include further education and the supportive environment of the current firm. Threats involve competition from experienced colleagues and the challenge of balancing work, family, and school. The analysis concludes by highlighting the use of SWOT for competitive advantage and the need for continuous self-assessment for personal and professional growth.

Running Head: SWOT ANALYSIS 1
BUSINESS CAPSTONE Assessment 2: SWOT Analysis
Name:
Grade Course:
Tutor’s Name:
Date of Submission:

SWOT ANALYSIS 2
Introduction
In order to achieve ones’ goals, one must be able to evaluate and critique oneself on a
personal level and use this critique to determine what steps to take. One must know their
strengths and weaknesses in order to build a strong foundation on which to base their growth
plan (Pluchevskaya, et al., 2016). A good leader is also able to identify opportunities that come
their way and perceive threats in order to address them properly. An effective way of doing this
is conducting an honest SWOT analysis (Pluchevskaya, et al., 2016). Once this is complete, an
individual can determine how to overcome their weaknesses and threats with the strengths that
they possess through the opportunities that are provided. This will allow one to build upon a
greater understanding of their abilities and shortcomings.
Analysis of Strengths
Upon completing the SWOT analysis on myself, I was able to identify some of my
strengths. I have a wonderfully supportive system of family and friends. Having them in my
corner has allowed me to achieve my goals of getting my accounting degree as well as my
business degree. This dual degree has allowed me to have not only an accounting background but
an understanding of business as well (Tokarev, 2002). I was able to achieve both degrees while
working full time and being pregnant with my first daughter. I have been told by others that I am
a fast learner as well as being very organized. Both traits allow me to take on new projects
quickly with little instruction. My supervisors typically assign new projects to me for this reason.
I consider myself to be very personable and try to make others around me more comfortable in
any situation. I believe these strengths align with the characteristics of leadership such as
passion, integrity, collaboration, respect, and honesty (Pluchevskaya, et al., 2016). I get all of
these things from my support group which in turn inspires me to pass along the same traits to

SWOT ANALYSIS 3
others. I like to focus on relationships with my peers as well as my clients, and all these
characteristics are needed in order to do so.
Analysis of Weaknesses
My husband tells me all the time that I am my own worst enemy. I can honestly say that
is likely the case a majority of the time. My weaknesses include a lack of personal confidence,
anxiety that can lead to panic attacks when it gets too bad, and I feel that I do not have the
education needed to achieve some of my professional goals (Pluchevskaya, et al., 2016). When I
look back on the leadership characteristics that I already possess, I realize that I can use some of
them to help overcome my weaknesses. Passion is a driving force that when harnessed can allow
you to go further than you could have ever imagined. As long as I maintain a passion for wanting
to achieve my goals, then I will be able to overcome my weaknesses. I feel that I will not be able
to succeed further in my career without gaining some professional certifications. While I have
the knowledge to complete my job effectively, I need the certification of Certified Public
Accountant in order to be considered for the level of partner. Until I achieve this level of
professional certification, I will not be considered for a promotion to that level of management.
Analysis of Opportunities
The opportunities that I have available to me now include completing more education as
well as showing exactly what I can handle in my workplace. Having a support team of family
and friends encouraging me along this path is helpful in being able to take this opportunity and
run with it. The firm that I am currently with are very encouraging in the employees achieving
new degrees as well as personal goals. Educational achievements are met with pay increases and
incentives. Time off to complete school assignments is readily given with no questions asked.

SWOT ANALYSIS 4
My ability to collaborate with others has also made it easy to take on responsibility as well as
delegate tasks at home and in the office in order to handle the larger workload. Being able to
work full time while being in school is hard but allows me the freedom to achieve my personal
and professional goals while maintaining a level of comfort for my family.
Analysis of Threats
One of the biggest threats that I see in the workplace is there are others that have more
experience and education than I possess currently. Due to this, I feel that no matter how much I
take on or how well I do my job I cannot compete with others in my office. This also ties into my
lack of personal confidence in the fact that I am not sure if it is an actual threat or a perceived
threat. At times, I will sabotage myself by convincing myself I will fail so I don’t waste time
even trying. Once again, passion is something that I feel can help ease the threat in this case. My
passion to learn the industry as well as the passion to be the best at my job can drive me ahead of
others who may have the experience but lack the motivation to be better than what they are
Another threat to my success is the ability to balance work, family and school. I sometimes feel
that I need to clone myself in order to give 100% to all aspects of my life. The traits of having a
shared vision and collaborating are monumental in overcoming this threat. My family and I
collaborate on how to handle all the daily tasks that need to be accomplished so I can focus on
school more than home at times. By sharing the vision of me achieving my academic and work
goals, my husband and I are able to encourage each other to continue plugging through even
when it gets tough.
Use of SWOT for Competitive Advantage

SWOT ANALYSIS 5
The use of the SWOT analysis is helpful in gaining a competitive advantage because it
allows me to see the areas where I can challenge myself to be better. I can also use the threats
and weaknesses areas to find sections where I can concentrate my growth in order to overcome
those items (Pluchevskaya, et al., 2016). Continuing to grow my strengths and opportunities
sections of the SWOT analysis will allow me to move further along the path of success that I see
for myself as well. The SWOT analysis should be a constantly evolving item that has new things
added each time it is conducted. This is the only way for a person to grow as an individual.
Conclusion
In conclusion, by taking a personal inventory of strengths and weaknesses as well as
opportunities and threats, one is able to find the areas that are open for improvement. This desire
to improve and become the best professional accountant possible is what sets a great professional
apart from others. While some may perceive knowing their threats and weaknesses as a bad
thing, having an inventory of weaknesses and threats is an opportunity for growth as an
individual. Being able to identify strengths and opportunities allows for both personal and
professional growth.

SWOT ANALYSIS 6
References
Pluchevskaya, E., Varlecheva, N. & Andrienko, O. (2016). SWOT - Analysis As A Tool To
Achieve A State of Personal Well-Being. The European Proceedings of Social &
Behaviural Science (pp. 548-553). Future Academy.
Smartsheet. (2017, November 15). 14 Free SWOT Analysis Template. Retrieved from
Smartsheet: https://www.smartsheet.com/14-free-swot-analysis-templates
Tokarev, V. (2002). Application of the SWOT - Analysis in the Development of the Company's
Strategy. Acknowledgement Management of the Company, 10(17): 56-60.

SWOT ANALYSIS 7
Appendix 1
PERSONAL SWOT ANALYSIS
INTERNAL FACTORS
STRENGTHS (+) WEAKNESSES (-)
Two associates degrees
Supportive family & friends
Organized
Fast learner
Personable
Lack of personal confidence
Anxiety issues
Need more education
Lack of professional certifications
EXTERNAL FACTORS
OPPORTUNITIES (+) THREATS (-)
Opportunity to complete education further.
Current firm pushes employees to achieve their best.
Able to attend school while employed
Others in the office have more experience and
education.
Workload, school, and family are hard to balance.
Personal sabotage.

SWOT ANALYSIS 8