The SWOT Analysis of the Army Health Clinic The current healthcare system can be difficult to navigate and medical centers often need management tools to help them develop strategic plans within their organizations. The SWOT analysis is a strategic tool that health centers can use to formulate a roadmap for their organizations. SWOT analysis examines internal capabilities (strengths and weaknesses) and external developments (opportunities and threats) when determining a strategic plan for an organization (Van Wijngaarden, Scholten, & Van Wijk, 2012). Van Wijngaarden et al. (2012) explains that for SWOT analysis to prove meaningful within an organization, it is important for stakeholders to take part in brainstorming to identify its internal capabilities and external developments. However, there are some drawbacks to using the SWOT analysis tool that it is important for health centers to remain aware of when developing their strategic plans. Helms and Nixon (2010) state that SWOT analysis can be vague and too simplistic when developing a strategic path for an organization; it can be difficult to classify variables into the four SWOT quadrants; and no clear-cut strategic path is identified once the SWOT analysis is completed. For these reasons they explain that it can be useful to use additional analysis tools in addition to the SWOT analysis. One such tool used by the U.S. Army Medical System is the Balanced Scorecard. The balanced scorecard can help health centers clarify their strategic goals and objectives and facilitates communication within the organization (Chan, 2006). Chan (2006) also reveals that balanced scorecards allow for constructive feedback from employees l...... middle of paper ...... Journal of AdministrativeServices, 23(2), 85-104.Ginter , P. M., Duncan, W. J., & Swayne, L. E. (2013). The strategic management of healthcare organizations (7th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.Helms, M.M., & Nixon, J. (2010). Exploring SWOT Analysis: Where Are We Now? Review of academic research of the last decade. Journal of Strategy and Management, 3(3), 215-251. doi:10.1108/17554251011064837Van Wijngaarden, J.D.H., Scholten, G.R.M., & Van Wijk, K.P. (2012, January). Strategic analysis for healthcare organizations: the suitability of SWOT analysis. International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 27(1), 34-49. doi:10.1002/hpm.1032Wing, J. (2010). SWOT analysis training. Retrieved from https://portal.wrmc.amedd.army.mil/wrmc/Strategic Planning Conference December 2010/A3 Strategic Planning Documents/SWOT Analysis.pptx