SWOT Analysis
For this assignment suggest the country
You will submit a SWOT analysis report consisting of 6 pages, not including the title page, abstract, or reference page. At least 1 scholarly source per page must be
included. In order to complete this assignment, you will choose a country with issues separate from the chosen country in the GAPS analysis report. You must choose a
locale that provides adequate resources for this project. For example, do not choose a country with issues far beyond what you will be able to accomplish in this
course. Likewise, you would not want to choose a country with issues far too small to have a need for a cohesive plan. In this assignment, you will target the specific
situations found within a particular county. This is an individual assignment which you will work on alone and submit online in Blackboard. After you complete your
assignment, you also need to post a copy of your assignment in the group discussion forum. This way, you will be able to read assignments from other group members and
learn from one another. Then in the group discussion forum, you need to reply and give feedback on other SWOT analyses in the group discussion forum.
This assignment will require that you address the following 6 specific areas:
SWOT
If you are unfamiliar with a SWOT analysis, you will need to conduct a Google search to find examples. In short, a SWOT is an analysis of an area’s Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It may be helpful when looking for your S, W, O, and T to contact someone living in the area you are researching. They can
provide a firsthand perspective that your other research may not provide. This portion of the assignment will take preplanning. People are usually willing to share
strengths or weaknesses, but they may not be able to share both based on their personal biases, experiences, and situation in life. Make sure your SWOT is balanced and
include all information that you have received.
Locale
When choosing your locale, make sure that you will be able to find demographic and economic information. You will want to choose an area with which you are familiar or
an area where there is obvious need. Choosing wisely will make your research more focused so that you can complete the research by the time the course has finished.
Economic Situation
You must detail the specific economic situation facing this location. How has the economic shift impacted the country and how has the country responded in the last 30
years? Additionally, what initiatives has the country implemented to revive the economic aspects of the country? You will need to know the country and what is going on
to be able to create an action plan, but, before you can make suggestions, you must intimately understand the pressures facing the constituents. Part of this section
will need to detail what kinds of industry the country emphasizes (industrial, educational, technology, etc.).
Cultural and Social Situation
You must detail the specific cultural and social situation facing this location. How has the cultural and social shift impacted the country and how has the country
responded in the last 30 years? Additionally, what initiatives has the country implemented to revive the social and cultural aspects of the country? You will need to
know the country and what is going on to be able to create an action plan, but, before you can make suggestions, you must intimately understand the pressures facing
the constituents. Part of this section will need to detail what kinds of educational and social policy the country emphasizes.
Legal and Geopolitical Issues
Based on the SWOT analysis and other research, what legal and/or geopolitical issues are facing the country? Explore your locale and find out if there are lawsuits
facing leaders in the country or geopolitical hot-button issues that will impact future economic development. Keep in mind that the situation your locale is facing may
be more practical than you anticipated.
Governmental Atmosphere
How is the government structured in this locale? What is unique or specific about the government in your locale? It may not need to be unique, but it characterizes the
atmosphere of the community. Does the government lean left or right, or is it openly pursuing a left or right agenda? Evaluate whether the legislators govern based on
their ideological bias or from the center rather than focusing on the best interests of the country. Explain the structure of the government. Include an organizational
chart of the government. Detail the function and role of each individual in the government and summarize how this atmosphere impacts or impacted the geopolitical
framework in the past and present. Also, discuss the role private business plays in geopolitics. Does the local governing body work closely with businesses or is the
relationship strained? Are the geopolitical policies driven by government, business, or both? Are there any public/private partnerships in the country? If so, fully
evaluate the usefulness of such an arrangement. Lastly, assess these issues from a biblical perspective.
Action Plan
This is the most substantial part of your assignment. All that you have been writing up until this point has been leading you to this section of the assignment. The
action plan is your recommendation for what the country can and should do to strengthen the geopolitical framework. You are required to think outside of the box. Your
plans must be sustainable and pragmatic, and they must address the needs of the country where the country is deficient. Now that you know the weaknesses, address them,
but make sure that in addressing the weaknesses you are not undermining the strengths. Seize the opportunities and remove the threats. You must think strategically and
systematically. You will need to fully justify and substantiate your action plan, and you will need to show how this action plan could and will work within the
specific structure of this locale. This is why you have detailed the governmental atmosphere and geopolitical issues. In this section of the paper, you get to be the
decision maker, but it must fit within the confines of your chosen country, and your proposal must be fully justified in all points. Ultimately, you are making your
case as to why your proposal would be good for your country and lead to growth in the strength of the geopolitical framework.
SWOT Analysis Grading Rubric
| Criteria | Levels of Achievement | Points Earned | ||
| Proficient | Competent | Novice | ||
| Formatting, Spelling, and Grammar | 11 to 15 points
· There is superior work in all areas. · The analysis consistently exceeds expectations in all areas regarding writing style, current Turabian formatting, grammar, and spelling. · The required page count (5–7 pages) is met. |
7 to 10 points
· There is acceptable work in most areas. · The analysis demonstrates minor deficiencies in some areas regarding writing style, current Turabian formatting, grammar, and spelling. · The required page count (5–7 pages) is met. |
0 to 6 points
· There is evidence of disregarding instructions or an inability to meet minimum standards of graduate level work. · The required page count (5–7 pages) is not met. |
|
| Locale | 9 to 10 points
· The student chooses a specific locale that has a specific geopolitical need that is readily obvious. · The student clearly and thoroughly articulates a rationale. |
6 to 8 points
· The student chooses a locale, but the geopolitical need is not readily obvious or a rationale is lacking. |
0 to 5 points
· The student chooses a locale without strategic intention or without clear rationale. |
|
| SWOT | 21 to 25 points
· The student articulately summarizes SWOT in the chosen locale. · The student uses individual living/working experiences in this location as a part of his/her research. |
17 to 20 points
· The student attempts to address SWOT in this locale, but he/she focused on 1 area less than the others. |
0 to 16 points
· The student makes little effort to uncover SWOT in this locale. No research was conducted with individuals in this area. |
|
| Criteria | Levels of Achievement | Points Earned | ||
| Proficient | Competent | Novice | ||
| Geopolitical Issues | 21 to 25 points
· The student notes numerous geopolitical issues facing this specific locale. · The student fully discusses the implications and possible solutions in dealing with these issues as they pertain to economic development and growth of the targeted city or area. |
17 to 20 points
· The student discusses issues, but is not explicit or specific regarding geopolitical issues facing this locale. · The student is too general and attempts to discuss this part of the assignment without really understanding the culture facing those living in the locale. |
0 to 16 points
· The student makes minimal attempts to understand and explain the geopolitical issues facing this locale and/or impacting public policy, economic policy and development or economic growth. |
|
| Government
Atmosphere Related to Geopolitics |
21 to 25 points
· The student discusses unique governance issues, leanings, and challenges in this locale. · The student critically analyzes and describes the type of governmental organization employed by this locale. · The student articulates the benefits and challenges facing this type of governmental organization and how this impacts the geopolitical framework. |
17 to 20 points
· The student situates the governmental atmosphere in this locale, but does so without a critical analysis or understanding of how the government impacts geopolitics. |
0 to 16 points
· The student does not connect governmental oversight to geopolitics. · The student describes the government, but leaves the reader asking “so what…?” regarding broader issues related to geopolitical growth. |
|
| Criteria | Levels of Achievement | Points Earned | ||
| Proficient | Competent | Novice | ||
| Action Plan | 21 to 25 points
· The student proposes an action plan that includes innovative, creative, out-of-the-box thinking. · The action plan very specifically appeals to the audience and the locale chosen for the project. · The action plan specifically addresses the economic, political, social, and cultural threats and weaknesses facing this locale. · The student notes how this proposal will impact the strengths and opportunities, making sure not to minimize strengths in order to deal with weaknesses. |
17 to 20 points
· The student proposes an action plan that includes good (but not great or unique) ideas and proposals. · These proposals somewhat represent higher thinking or ideas that could sufficiently create the economic, political, social, and cultural change needed in the locale. · The student fails to connect his/her proposals to the SWOT analysis. |
0 to 16 points
· The student proposes an action plan that includes elementary ideas that have likely been employed already at this locale. · The student does not challenge the status quo which will, in all likelihood, propagate current failures in this locale. · The student does not analyze the current policy nor use the SWOT as the basis for his/her proposals. |
|
| Bibliography | 21 to 25 points
· The student has at least 1 scholarly source per page in his/her paper. · There are no errors—bibliographic information is fully consistent with the current Turabian guidelines. |
17 to 20 points
· The student has less than 1 source per page in his/her paper, or the sources lack full academic rigor. · There are some errors regarding bibliographic information. |
0 to 16 points
· The student does not attempt to challenge himself/herself with the research available on the topic at hand. · The student provides minimal sources or sources from unscholarly resources. · There are several errors regarding bibliographic information. |
|
| Total | /150 | |||
| Instructor’s Comments: | ||||
