SWOT analysis began in a workplace where no strengths could be found.

For some reason, a SWOT analysis began.

One day, we were suddenly told from above, "Let's do a SWOT analysis."
Honestly, I thought, "Our hospital isn't really in a situation for that right now..."

I work at an acute care hospital.
But,

• We are short-staffed
• The training system is ad-hoc
• The bed occupancy rate is abnormally low for an acute care facility

—It makes you wonder, "Do we even have any strengths?"
Honestly, the "S (Strengths)" column of the SWOT was completely blank.
It makes you want to quip, "This isn't a SWOT analysis anymore, it's just a WT analysis."

However, I realized something after trying it.

At first, the SWOT analysis felt completely forced.
But when I turned my eyes to the external environment (O and T), I saw a glimmer of light.

Actually, the structure of other hospitals has changed significantly recently.
What used to be operated in two separate locations has been consolidated into one, with one facility closing down.

This means that the patients and referrals from the closed hospital
might flow our way as a new potential influx.

Moreover, it is easily accessible in terms of location.
This could be a chance to stir up some wind for our "low occupancy rate," which has been a weakness until now.

SWOT analysis is not a task for finding strengths.

It was "a set of questions to re-examine the present."


There is no need to force yourself to squeeze out positivity.
In fact, it is precisely in a situation where there are no strengths that the analysis has meaning.

• If there is a labor shortage, where does it hurt the most?
• If there is inconsistency in training, what kind of system can we change it to?
• If the occupancy rate is low, where should we compete?

If you combine that with the opportunity of "external changes,"
a small move might become the starting point for changing the flow.

Conclusion

SWOT analysis should be done when things are going poorly, rather than when they are going well.

It's not that "there's no point in doing it because there are no strengths."
"Because we have no strengths now, we use this as a foundation to think about our next move."

I realized that is the true value of a SWOT analysis.

To those who think, "We're already finished"

If your workplace also makes you think,
"Isn't it useless to do anything at this point?"
SWOT analysis is surprisingly not bad.

It becomes a trigger for us on the front lines to put things into words and turn them into action.
The value lies in the process of thinking, not in the results of the analysis.

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