SWOT analysis examines which elements?

• A. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
• B. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Targets
• C. Strengths, Weaknesses, Outcomes, Threats
• D. Strengths, Weaknesses, Operations, Tools

Answer: (A)

SWOT analysis examines four areas: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It looks at internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) to understand what the organization does well and where it struggles, alongside external factors (opportunities and threats) to identify favorable chances for growth and potential risks from the environment. In healthcare leadership, this helps a department or facility plan strategically—leveraging strong clinician expertise or solid patient satisfaction (strengths) while addressing issues like staffing turnover (weaknesses), pursuing new funding or partnerships (opportunities), and preparing for regulatory changes or competitive pressures (threats).

The other options don’t fit because they replace one of the four standard elements with terms that aren’t part of the SWOT framework—targets, outcomes, operations, or tools.