Quadrant Matrix Swot Analysis

Figure 1 - Scenario Building Quadrant Matrix

To create the different possible futures, Ilbury and Sunter (2001) follow a four step process with different tasks in every quadrant matrix (Figure 1). These tasks with an explanation as applied in “The Mind of a Fox” (Ilbury & Sunter, 2001) entails the following:

Ilbury and Sunter (2001, p. 36) explain that the term “The term "scenario planning" normally refers to the processes one undertakes in the first two quadrants (1 and 2 in Figure 1). During this phase, the matrix changes the normal SWOT analysis to OTSW where opportunities and threats belongs to the first two quadrants on the lower deck while “strengths” and “weaknesses” belongs to the last two quadrants on the upper deck (Ilbury & Sunter, 2001, p. 43). It is advisable that the process is done with the assistance of a team, in order to focus on the key deliverables in this quadrant. Deliverables include the defining of the topic, scope, issues or market conditions

Strategic planning frameworks like PLOC (Ilbury & Sunter, 2001, p. 140) combined with SMART tools assist management to set objectives and determine a course of action for achieving those objectives based on the scenario roadmaps. Ilbury and Sunter (2001, p. 114) raise an important point about scenario planning when they quote commander Jim Lovell referring to the Apollo 13 mission as a "successful failure" – you must always re-assess and adjust your situation and the possible scenarios. The motivation lies in the “wildcards” which could change the landscape at any moment. Benefits of revisiting forces managers to revisit the original scenarios in order to develop an understanding of what worked and what didn’t. It also assist to highlight new opportunities and threats that have been created since the original scenarios were developed and provides valuable input to future