DNP Project I: SWOT Analysis Assignment
Utilize the approved DNP project topic to complete a gap and SWOT analysis. This activity will assist in the development of the DNP Project Proposal throughout the course.
A gap analysis is a process where an organization compares its current practice to practice expectations or goals (e.g., benchmarks) (Leonard & Bottorff, 2022). The purpose is “to identify discrepancies between known benchmarks for efficient and effective health care delivery and practice with the real-world conditions” (Davis-Ajami et al., 2014, p. 18). A gap analysis answers the questions:
- Where is the organization now?
- Where does the organization want to be?
- What can be done to close the gap?
The gap analysis will guide the aims, objectives, and interventions for the DNP scholarly project. It is completed in 5 steps, the last of which is a SWOT analysis.
Step 1: Identify the Current State/Problem
Identify the current state. What is the problem/clinical question for the project topic? Is this a new problem (a few months) or has it been ongoing for a while? Briefly describe your findings below.
Step 2: Identify and Define Best Practice
Identify and define the desired state and the best practice needed to reach the desired state through a comprehensive literature review. Evidence must include a least one (1) national guideline, evidence-based protocol, or regulatory standard. Briefly describe the desired state and best practice needed below. Cite sources of best practice.
Step 3: Gather Data
Gather data at the project site to figure out the nature of the gap. Ask questions of everyone involved, at all levels. What do people notice day to day surrounding the problem? Which team members play a role? Review documentation and organizational policies and procedures–do they contribute to the problem? What are the barriers to best practice implementation? Create field notes for use in Step 4.
Step 4: Measure and Benchmark
Complete the Table below, based on the data collected at the site in Step 3 and best practice evidence from Step 2. See examples from the presentation.
| Best Practices | Best Practice Strategies | How do project site practices differ from best practices? | Barriers to best practice implementation | |
Step 5: SWOT Analysis
A SWOT analysis is used to evaluate the internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats to the project. A SWOT analysis provides a broad view of the current situation and risks to the project, which can be anticipated and mitigated when developing project objectives and interventions (Moran et al., 2020, pp. 129-130).
Strengths and weaknesses refer to internal resources readily available for the project, such as financial, physical, and human resources, and current processes. Opportunities and threats refer to external factors that can impact the project, such as economic trends, funding, demographics, relationships with partners/communities, and political and economic regulations.
Complete the Table below, based on the information gathered through the gap analysis process (Steps 1-4). See examples from the presentation.
| Strengths
What does the organization do well? What organizational resources exist to support the project? |
Weaknesses
What can the organization improve upon? What organizational resources are lacking that would be necessary to support the project? |
| · | · |
| · | · |
| · | · |
| Opportunities
What opportunities are available for the project? How can strengths be turned into opportunities? |
Threats
What threats could harm the project? What threats do the weaknesses expose? |
| · | · |
| · | · |
| · | · |
Reference List
Minimum 10 references, must include at least one (1) national guideline, evidence-based protocol, or regulatory standard.
