What are threats in a SWOT analysis?

• A. External Factors That May Cause Harm
• B. Internal Factors That Aid Performance
• C. External Factors That Create Opportunities
• D. Internal Processes That Improve Efficiency

Answer: (A)

Threats in a SWOT analysis are external factors that could negatively impact the organization’s ability to meet its goals. They come from the outside environment and can include things like new competitors, market shifts, regulatory changes, economic downturns, technology changes, supplier problems, or changes in customer preferences. Because threats originate outside the organization, they’re things you monitor and plan for with mitigation or response strategies, such as contingency planning or strengthening competitive positioning. The other options describe internal strengths, opportunities, or internal processes—not external harms—so they don’t fit the concept of threats.