The usefulness of SWOT analysis is not limited to profit-seeking organizations. SWOT analysis may be used in any decision-making situation when a desired end-state (objective) has been defined. Examples include: non-profit organizations, governmental units, and individuals. SWOT analysis may also be used in pre-crisis planning and preventive crisis management. SWOT analysis may also be used in creating a recommendation during a viability study/survey.
Strengths:
•   What advantages does your organization have?
•   What do you do better than anyone else?
•   What unique or lowest-cost resources can you draw upon that others can't?
•   What do people in your market see as your strengths?
•   What factors mean that you "get the sale"?
Weaknesses:
•   What could you improve?
•   What should you avoid?
•   What are people in your market likely to see as weaknesses?
•   What factors lose you sales?
Opportunities:
•   What good opportunities can you spot?
•   What interesting trends are you aware of?
Useful opportunities can come from such things as:
•   Changes in technology and markets on both a broad and narrow scale.
•   Changes in government policy related to your field.
•   Changes in social patterns, population profiles, lifestyle changes, and so on.
•   Local events.
Threats
•   What obstacles do you face?
•   What are your competitors doing?
•   Are quality standards or specifications for your job, products or services changing?
•   Is changing technology threatening your position?
•   Do you have bad debt or cash-flow problems?
•   Could any of your weaknesses seriously threaten your business?