A knowledge-based SWOT-analysis system as an instrument for strategic planning in small and medium sized enterprises

Good performance within a company is the result of correct interaction of b usiness management with its internal and external environment. The recognit ion of internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats, takes place on the basis of a SWOT-analysis. However, despite their importance, many companies often only have vague ideas of their comp etitive strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats. In this paper, the development of a knowledge-based system is described that can assist m anagers of small and medium sized companies in performing a SWOT-analysis. For our research purposes, we concentrated only on the identification of in ternal strengths and weaknesses. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.