SWOT ANALYSIS INFORMATION

ASSIGNMENT - SWOT Analysis in the Life Sciences (100 points)

Addresses Course Outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 4:

• Interpret and critically analyze primary scientific literature to assess the validity and reliability of scientific results

and evaluate the conclusions drawn from these data

• Demonstrate proficiency in scientific principles, techniques, and applications in the life sciences to evaluate

experimental design and determine compliance with standards of protocol and ethical practice

• Effectively communicate scientific principles, concepts, methods, and research findings based on critical analysis

of primary literature, industry reports, and other life sciences resources

• Pose vital and relevant scientific questions to identify problems, challenges, and opportunities for the development

of innovative products and services in the life sciences

To remain relevant within the life sciences, you must be a visionary. Whether you are motivated by discovery research,

finding cures, furthering biotechnology, introducing new medicines, or some other aspect of the life sciences, you will want

to assess whether your ideas and plans have a place both now and in the future. The basis for the observations (the first step

in the scientific method) that lead to the innovation is often gleaned from primary scientific literature. In this assignment,

you will develop and exercise your visionary skills, first by tracing the scientific method through an assigned primary

scientific article. You will then base a SWOT analysis on your company’s ability to take the innovation - the

development of a new research technique, project, product, or service you propose based on the primary scientific article –

to market.

Pre-SWOT Analysis

1. Read primary article B.

2. Read the supplemental material provided for SWOT Analyses.

Scenario

Imagine that you are the CEO of a biotechnology company looking to develop an innovation in the life sciences. You have

just read an interesting primary research article (primary article B) based on a specific area of biotechnology. Primary

article B will serve as the basis for observations that can lead to the identification of future research challenges and/or

opportunities by the development of a new research technique, new research project, new product, or new service. Once

you have identified an innovative technique, project, product, or service, based on primary article B, you will perform a

SWOT analysis to determine your company’s ability to take the innovation to the market. The SWOT analysis must include

all criteria as specified below. Deviations or missing elements will result in point deductions.

The SWOT Analysis

I. SWOT Analysis Format (10 points)

A. Paper title page - name, instructor, title, due date (2)

B. Sections of paper labeled properly – see Content A-C below (1)

C. Type double-spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman font paper with 1-inch margins (2)

D. 4-5 pages (not including title page and reference page) (5)

Please do not exceed the 5-page limit –anything beyond 5 pages will not be considered for grading.

II. SWOT Paper Content (55 points)

A. Company introduction – (the same company used for the Futuring Analysis) (6)

1. Share the type of company you head as CEO (manufacturing, medical, agricultural, environmental,

pharmaceutical, etc.) (2)

2. Share the name of your company, its location, and its employee base (3)

3. Share your company’s motto or mantra (1)

B. Innovation introduction (22 points)

1. Trace the scientific method (12) – identify the observations, question, hypothesis, experiment, results, and

conclusion of primary article B

2. Eureka! moment (5) - In 2-3 sentences, describe an aspect of the research presented in primary article B

(introduction, materials, methods, results, discussion, or conclusion) that stood out as you read primary article

B which you believe could lead to an innovative technique, project, product, or service in the life sciences for

your company.

3. Innovation (5) – Based on the Eureka! moment you have described, fully explain the innovative technique,

service, product, or research you have conceived. The innovation must be a technique, project, product, or

service that you conceived on your own – not one already presented in primary article B.

C. SWOT Analysis (22 points)

1. Briefly introduce the purpose of SWOT analyses in the life sciences (5)

2. SWOT Analysis Chart (12) - Use the information presented in the SWOT analysis PowerPoint

presentation to perform a SWOT analysis based on the characteristics of your company that will impact its

ability produce the proposed innovative method, research, product, or service. Remember, DO NOT

BASE THE SWOT ANALYSIS ON THE INNOVATION ITSELF, but rather on your company’s ability

to produce the innovation. Results must be presented (single-spaced) in the table format below using

phrases, not sentences:

List 3 Internal Company Strengths (S)

1.

2.

3.

List 3 Internal Company Weaknesses (W)

1.

2.

3.

List 3 External Company Opportunities (O)

1.

2.

3.

List 3 External Company Threats (T)

1.

2.

3.

3. SWOT Analysis follow-up (5) Choose ONLY ONE of the following questions to answer:

a. How can you use the internal strengths to take advantage of the external opportunities? (5)

b. How can you minimize the internal weaknesses to avoid the external threats? (5)

c. How can the external opportunities help you combat the internal weaknesses? (5)

d. How can the internal strengths combat the external threats? (5)

III. Paper References (20 points) No references = zero for this assignment

A. Use at least 5 credible references (10) "Is My Source Credible?" https://sites.umgc.edu/library/libhow/credibility.cfm.

B. In-text references in APA format (5) (All references should be cited throughout the paper)

C. End references in APA-format (5) https://libguides.umgc.edu/apa-examples

IV. Paper Grammar (5 points)

Correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, sentence construction, and paragraph construction will be considered in the

grading of this assignment.

V. Paper Submission (10 points) Submit Word documents ONLY - PDF files will not be graded

A. Save your Word file as: First and Last name – Futuring (e.g., Sharon Brown – SWOT Analysis) (2)

B. Turnitin score (8)

SWOT ANALYSIS RESOURCES

Innovation in 5 Minutes

http://www.slideshare.net/Brokenbulbs/understand-innovation-in-5-minutes?related=2

Short Practical Steps to Developing an Innovator’s DNA (Slide Presentation): http://www.slideshare.net/sivapriya28/the-

innovators-dna?related=2

What is Creativity and Innovation?

http://www.slideshare.net/ingosigge/creativity-innovation-18790832?related=3

Use the resources listed below to help you choose a specific area of interest for the opportunities section of the

assignment:

Career Trends

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/healthcare-science/careers-in-healthcare-science/careers-

in-life-sciences/

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-who-you-are/undergraduates-and-recent-graduates/

http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/articles/10.1038/nj7393-277a

Service Trends

http://www.lifesciencepatents.nl/en/

http://lifesciencesadvisory.com/services

http://www.indeed.com/q-Technology-Transfer-jobs.html

http://www.federallabs.org/employment/

Technology Trends

www.bio.org

http://www.biotech-now.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptqPJGTsIoM Future Technologies That Will Change the World

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/life-science-chemical-biotech-instrumentation-

market-38.html

http://aami-bit.org/loi/bmit OR https://www.mhealthevidence.org/journal-title/biomedical-

instrumentation-technology-association-advancement-medical-instrumentation

http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/journal/Biomedical_instrumentation technology

http://www.biotechmedia.com/y2001-ed-bit.html