Strategic Planning/SWOT analysis

SWOT analysis 2011

This is a work in progress document started by User:Juttavd as part of the strategic planning process.

S.W.O.T.

Strengths

• Tech savvy membership across a broad range of competencies esp. OSS.
• Members with important other positions contacts, involvement.
  • Academically connected membership!
• Positive financial balance!
• Good contacts with allied orgs. in cultural institutions.
• Geographic diversity [also a negative] - presence in membership and on committee in most states.
• Public awareness of WP, great goodwill.
• Connection to broader WM movement and associated capabilities.
• English language community that reduces interaction costs.
• Cheap, good software development infrastructure.

Weaknesses

• Lack of membership engagement.
• Geographic diversity [also a positive] prevents IRL meet-ups.
• Lack of communication (between cities/states, Chapter members, inter-Chapter, public).
• Lack of a physical base.
• Poor separation between activities of English WP and WMAU.
• Lack of public and community awareness of Chapter.
• Limited capability and capacity in NFP management (e.g. fundraising, press, legal, tech, etc)..
• Australia's presence on English WP is difficult to measure and inconsequential.
• Crown Copyright (vs US govt public domain) therefore harder to get govt-related Australian content.
• Significant section of potential user base on dial-up, satellite. Part of broader digital divide.
• Lack of understanding about WMAU membership demographics.
• Financial management and reporting processes are underdeveloped.
• Not currently DGR / charity status.

Opportunities

• Working with the established Australian media (e.g. ABC).
• Working with GLAM.
• Working with Education.
• Diversifying fundraising (e.g. grants from WMF/philanthropy or other organisations, including tied grants)
• Becoming a significant granting body.
• Nearby countries/languages - Indonesia, NZ, PNG.
• Supporting Australian editors (esp. power users).
• Gov't advocacy around free knowledge issues.
• Supporting and developing the volunteer network (outreach, tech, fundraising, dev).

Threats

• Low membership base in some regions and possible resulting disengagement.
• Legal - suing for libel etc.
• Changes on regulatory environment (e.g. public liability, tax, copyright, etc).
• Changes in relationship with WMF (e.g. fundraising, trademarks).
• Potential misuse of funds (internal or external).
• Other Chapter / WMF / WP scandal and reputational issues.
• Reliance of single revenue stream (not wholly in WMAU control).
• Political breakdown in WMAU.

Background information

Please go to Retreat_March_2009/SWOT to see what was identified in 2009.