the frameworkswot : a strategic planning method used to tease out Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of and for a particular design problem

charrette : a kind of idea jam, which, in this case study, brought together experts and non-experts : architects, urban planners, designers, artists, local businesses, residents of toronto

‘swot inside a charrette’

strengths weaknesses

opportunities threats

KMD1001 5x5 - Michelle Gay

the contextSWOT ANALYSIS USED TO FOCUS

DISCUSSIONSin a community-driven and

community-organized charrette to brainstorm around pressing urban

planning issues in the West Queen West Triangle precinct

in Toronto.

Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats

findings in 2006

critiques of swot method

• offers no strategy to translate findings into real action• no resolutions emerge and no link to an implementation plan comes from a swot analysis• items may not seem precise• opinions about items don’t need verification• as a business strategy tool, the critique is that the findings tend to be too simplistic and vague • findings often not used in subsequent stages beyond the task of producing a swot analysis• no prioritizing of the items or categorizing of the variables

* a swot analysis used in a 2006 charrette focused and familiarized the community on the impending urban planning issues facing the WQW neighbourhood of Toronto.

* As a standalone matrix of findings, it may not provide enough context and meaning, but when used in conjunction with the charrette, the swot analysis was useful to stir an intended debate.* swot is an straightforward tool to use* strong community organization formed that has continued on for the past 7 years (and is still actively involved in urban planning issues today).

* the non-experts gained huge shareable knowledge around:city planning systems, zoning by-laws, negotiation skills on dealing with private developers,strategies for working with the elected City Council and local Councillor.

* the community organization used blogs and other social media tools to share their ‘findings’ with other community groups to help others understand the complex system of city planning.

how’d that work out?