There are four combinations of criteria in the TOWS Matrix that are used to compare strategies. The organization should be looking for one that offers the greatest chance for success.

1. Strengths-Opportunities (SO): The first strategy includes using the organization’s strengths to make the best use of any existing opportunities. For example, if an organization has a positive and strong brand image, they can use that asset to explore and dominate a new area of the market.
2. Weaknesses-Opportunities (WO): Another strategy the organization can implement is one that offers the company options and plans to overcome its weaknesses so that it can benefit from any existing opportunities. For example, an organization that does not have anyone with a particular body of knowledge that is necessary to grow and attain a competitive advantage in the industry should take advantage of the opportunity to partner with a company that has that information.
3. Strengths-Threats (ST): These strategies require the organization to use its strong points to bypass any hindrances to its goals. For instance, when facing competition in a particular area of the market or if trying to acquire a new client base, the organization needs to emphasize its most advantageous qualities, such as its customer service, longevity, high quality goods, efficient processes, etc.
4. Weaknesses-Threats (WT): Strategies in this category are centered around minimizing an organization’s weaknesses so it is less susceptible to external threats. For example, if an organization has not yet marketed its products to an emerging demographic group(s), research can be conducted to understand the target audience and market appropriately.

After organizing all the available strategies into their respective categories, the leadership team meets to discuss which strategy is the most aligned with the larger goals of the organization as well as its mission and vision statements.

Strategists spend a lot of time looking inward at how a company operates, but more work is often required to develop a deep understanding of what is happening outside of a particular organization. The new online TOWS Matrix from Praxie can help. A TOWS Analysis is similar to a SWOT analysis, except that, in order to complete the TOWS Matrix, business leaders or strategy team members must think about their company and what the organization considers the interaction of the internal and external factors (e.g., strengths-opportunities, weaknesses-threats) to identify the strategy that provides the most benefit to the company. Get started with our TOWS Matrix template. 

How to use it: 

1. Consider each question in the TOWS Matrix.  
2. For each question consider how to minimize your weaknesses and maximize your strengths.  
3. List and prioritize specific strategies and approaches you can take. 
4. Based on your TOWS Matrix, create an action plan to address your top opportunities, leverage your strengths and address any weaknesses, and ensure you achieve meaningful and measurable results. 

Unlike most traditional TOWS Matrix techniques, Praxie’s online TOWS Matrix tools allow any team or organization to instantly begin working with our web templates and input forms. Our digital platform goes far beyond other software tools by including progress dashboards, data integration from existing documents or other SaaS software, elegant intuitive designs, and full access on any desktop or mobile device.