Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. SWOT Analysis / Matrix

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SWOT analysis is a vital strategic planning tool that can be used by Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. managers to do a situational analysis of the organization . It is a useful technique to analyze the present Strengths (S), Weakness (W), Opportunities (O) & Threats (T) Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. is facing in its current business environment.

The Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. is one of the leading firms in its industry. Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. maintains its prominent position in market by critically analyzing and reviewing the SWOT analysis.  SWOT analysis an immensenly interactive process and requires effective coordination among various departments within the company such as – marketing, finance, operations, management information systems and strategic planning.


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The SWOT Analysis framework enables an organization to identify the internal strategic factors such as -strengths and weaknesses, & external strategic factors such as - opportunities and threats. It leads to a 2X2 matrix – also known as SWOT Matrix.

The Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT) Analysis / Matrix enables the managers of the Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. to develop four types of strategies:

  • SO (strengths-opportunities) Strategies
  • WO (weaknesses-opportunities) Strategies
  • ST (strengths-threats) Strategies
  •  WT (weaknesses-threats) Strategies
Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. swot analysis / matrix

SWOT Matrix Strategies Objective

The core purpose of SWOT matrix is to identify the strategies that an organization can use to exploit external opportunities, counter threats, and build on & protect Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. strengths, and eradicate its weaknesses.

Step by Step Guide to Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. SWOT Analysis

Strengths of Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. – Internal Strategic Factors


As one of the leading companies in its industry, Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. has numerous strengths that enable it to thrive in the market place. These strengths not only help it to protect the market share in existing markets but also help in penetrating new markets. Based on Fern Fort University extensive research – some of the strengths of Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. are –


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  • Reliable suppliers – It has a strong base of reliable supplier of raw material thus enabling the company to overcome any supply chain bottlenecks.
  • High level of customer satisfaction – the company with its dedicated customer relationship management department has able to achieve a high level of customer satisfaction among present customers and good brand equity among the potential customers.
  • Good Returns on Capital Expenditure – Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. is relatively successful at execution of new projects and generated good returns on capital expenditure by building new revenue streams.
  • Highly successful at Go To Market strategies for its products.
  • Strong Free Cash Flow – Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. has strong free cash flows that provide resources in the hand of the company to expand into new projects.
  • Strong dealer community – It has built a culture among distributor & dealers where the dealers not only promote company’s products but also invest in training the sales team to explain to the customer how he/she can extract the maximum benefits out of the products.
  • Superb Performance in New Markets – Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. has built expertise at entering new markets and making success of them. The expansion has helped the organization to build new revenue stream and diversify the economic cycle risk in the markets it operates in.
  • Successful track record of developing new products – product innovation.


Weakness of Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. – Internal Strategic Factors


Weakness are the areas where Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. can improve upon. Strategy is about making choices and weakness are the areas where a firm can improve using SWOT analysis and build on its competitive advantage and strategic positioning.


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  • Need more investment in new technologies. Given the scale of expansion and different geographies the company is planning to expand into, Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. needs to put more money in technology to integrate the processes across the board. Right now the investment in technologies is not at par with the vision of the company.
  • Financial planning is not done properly and efficiently. The current asset ratio and liquid asset ratios suggest that the company can use the cash more efficiently than what it is doing at present.
  • The company has not being able to tackle the challenges present by the new entrants in the segment and has lost small market share in the niche categories. Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. has to build internal feedback mechanism directly from sales team on ground to counter these challenges.
  • Not very good at product demand forecasting leading to higher rate of missed opportunities compare to its competitors. One of the reason why the days inventory is high compare to its competitors is that Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. is not very good at demand forecasting thus end up keeping higher inventory both in-house and in channel.
  • There are gaps in the product range sold by the company. This lack of choice can give a new competitor a foothold in the market.
  • Not highly successful at integrating firms with different work culture. As mentioned earlier even though Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. is successful at integrating small companies it has its share of failure to merge firms that have different work culture.
  • High attrition rate in work force – compare to other organizations in the industry Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. has a higher attrition rate and have to spend a lot more compare to its competitors on training and development of its employees.

Opportunities for Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. – External Strategic Factors


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  • The new technology provides an opportunity to Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. to practices differentiated pricing strategy in the new market. It will enable the firm to maintain its loyal customers with great service and lure new customers through other value oriented propositions.
  • Stable free cash flow provides opportunities to invest in adjacent product segments. With more cash in bank the company can invest in new technologies as well as in new products segments. This should open a window of opportunity for Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. in other product categories.
  • The new taxation policy can significantly impact the way of doing business and can open new opportunity for established players such as Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. to increase its profitability.
  • New customers from online channel – Over the past few years the company has invested vast sum of money into the online platform. This investment has opened new sales channel for Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.. In the next few years the company can leverage this opportunity by knowing its customer better and serving their needs using big data analytics.
  • Economic uptick and increase in customer spending, after years of recession and slow growth rate in the industry, is an opportunity for Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. to capture new customers and increase its market share.
  • Decreasing cost of transportation because of lower shipping prices can also bring down the cost of Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.’s products thus providing an opportunity to the company - either to boost its profitability or pass on the benefits to the customers to gain market share.
  • The market development will lead to dilution of competitor’s advantage and enable Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. to increase its competitiveness compare to the other competitors.
  • Government green drive also opens an opportunity for procurement of Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. products by the state as well as federal government contractors.

Threats Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. Facing - External Strategic Factors

  • Liability laws in different countries are different and Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. may be exposed to various liability claims given change in policies in those markets.
  • Growing strengths of local distributors also presents a threat in some markets as the competition is paying higher margins to the local distributors.
  • As the company is operating in numerous countries it is exposed to currency fluctuations especially given the volatile political climate in number of markets across the world.
  • The demand of the highly profitable products is seasonal in nature and any unlikely event during the peak season may impact the profitability of the company in short to medium term.
  • No regular supply of innovative products – Over the years the company has developed numerous products but those are often response to the development by other players. Secondly the supply of new products is not regular thus leading to high and low swings in the sales number over period of time.
  • Rising pay level especially movements such as $15 an hour and increasing prices in the China can lead to serious pressure on profitability of Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.
  • Imitation of the counterfeit and low quality product is also a threat to Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.’s product especially in the emerging markets and low income markets.
  • Rising raw material can pose a threat to the Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. profitability.

Limitations of SWOT Analysis for Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.

Although the SWOT analysis is widely used as a strategic planning tool, the analysis does have its share of limitations.

  • Certain capabilities or factors of an organization can be both a strength and weakness at the same time. This is one of the major limitations of SWOT analysis . For example changing environmental regulations can be both a threat to company it can also be an opportunity in a sense that it will enable the company to be on a level playing field or at advantage to competitors if it able to develop the products faster than the competitors.
  • SWOT does not show how to achieve a competitive advantage, so it must not be an end in itself.
  • The matrix is only a starting point for a discussion on how proposed strategies could be implemented. It provided an evaluation window but not an implementation plan based on strategic competitiveness of Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.
  • SWOT is a static assessment - analysis of status quo with few prospective changes. As circumstances, capabilities, threats, and strategies change, the dynamics of a competitive environment may not be revealed in a single matrix.
  • SWOT analysis may lead the firm to overemphasize a single internal or external factor in formulating strategies. There are interrelationships among the key internal and external factors that SWOT does not reveal that may be important in devising strategies.

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Weighted SWOT Analysis of Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.

In light of the above mentioned limitations of the SWOT analysis / matrix, corporate managers decided to provide weightage to each internal strength and weakness of the firm. Organizations also assess the likelihood of events taking place in the coming future and how strong their impact could be on company's performance.

This method is called Weighted SWOT analysis. It is better than doing simplistic SWOT analysis because with Weighted SWOT Analysis Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. managers can focus on the most critical factors and discount the non-important one. It also solves the long list problem where organizations ends up making a long list but none of the factors deemed too critical.

Limitation of Weighted SWOT analysis of Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.

This approach also suffers from one major drawback - it focus on individual importance of factor rather than how they are collectively important and impact the business holistically.

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Example of Weighted SWOT Analysis

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SWOT Worksheet & Template

If you like to do your own SWOT analysis or want to make your own Weighted SWOT SWOT matrix then feel free to download Fern Fort University SWOT Analysis Template.


References / Citations & Bibliography

  • M. E. Porter, Competitive Strategy(New York: Free Press, 1980)
  • A. D. Chandler, Strategy and Structure (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1962)
  • O. E. Williamson, Markets and Hierarchies(New York: Free Press, 1975);
  • L. Wrigley, Divisional Autonomy and Diversification (PhD, Harvard Business School, 1970)
  • R. E. White, Generic Business Strategies, Organizational Context and Performance: An Empirical Investigation, Strategic Management Journal7 (1986)