Question # 1
List at least FOUR sources you will use to obtain information about the firm's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Discuss what categories of the SWOT elements of information are readily available on the Internet. What categories of data are difficult or impossible to find on the Internet? (When using the Internet, be sure to provide specific websites or URLs.)
NOTE: You cannot use Wikipedia or another type of information-sharing website as a source for the
Question # 2
Rate, from best to worst, each of the sources you indicated in Question 1 above as being sources you will use in your analysis in terms of its probable reliability. Discuss the steps and/or actions you can take to validate the reliability and accuracy of the information you obtain.
Question # 3
As a manager, how confident would you be in basing strategic decisions on the information that you've obtained online for the SWOT? What other sources of information can you use to effectively complete the SWOT Analysis? How can you check or cross-check the accuracy of some of the information? How could regulations such as The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (see the link under Webliography) assist in ensuring the accuracy of the information? How confident are you about the accuracy of the information in your SWOT analysis?