ABSTRACT
To have any chance of success, strategic plans must be developed taking into account the internal and external environments within which the organization operates. This chapter reviews the basic components of an internal and external strengths and weakness, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis. It briefly examines several of the trends that have an impact on the macro environment for online education. The significance of these trends primarily is that they may shape the institutional receptivity to online education and new online initiatives. Following the analysis of the major factors shaping the overall environment for online education, the chapter explores using SWOT–like approaches to planning strategically for online education. The exploration has two components. The first component was a survey of the competitive contours of online education. The second aspect looks at ways to assess institutional readiness for online education. The chapter concludes by laying out the role the SWOT analysis plays in planning strategically.
