Preliminary classification of the external factors and trends as either opportunities or threats which will be the inputs for the final SWOT analysis.

1. Technological Advancements – Opportunity: Technological advancements can provide organizations with valuable opportunities to improve efficiency in operations, reach out to new customers, and gain a competitive edge over their rivals. Automated tools or AI can be used to reduce costs, while providing more effective ways of delivering products or services. The digitalization of business processes also allows companies to expand their markets. They can now access powerful analytics that help them better understand customers’ behavior.

2. Changing Consumer Habits – Opportunity: Changes in consumer habits can open up significant growth opportunities for businesses if they are able to adjust quickly enough. Understanding how consumers interact with brands prior to, during and after purchases is crucial for businesses. It allows them to discover areas that need improving as well as potential revenue streams.

3. Economic Volatility – Threat: While some fluctuations in economic conditions may present opportunities for businesses, volatile economies generally create uncertainty which could lead organizations facing challenging times such as reduced profits or layoffs due to decreased demand.

4. Regulatory Changes – Threat: New regulations may bring about increased compliance requirements which could impact an organization’s ability to remain competitive by restricting certain operational activities or forcing them into higher expenditure levels on things like safety protocols or data privacy measures.

5. Globalization of Markets – Opportunity: The globalization of markets provides numerous advantages such as access to larger pools of talent from different parts of the world as well as potentially lower costs when sourcing materials from other countries due their cheaper production costs compared with domestic ones.

6. Increased Competition – Threat: With more players entering any given market competition tends to become fierce which means companies must stay agile if they want remain ahead by continuously innovating their product offerings so that they appeal more strongly than those offered by rivals. Further, the increased level of competition leads to organizations losing their pricing power as a result of the large volume they can offer. This further erodes profit margins.