question for assessment centres- I know in a case study you are meant to use SWOT, but when would you use PESTOL?
Hiya
@Kakaboo
Just wanted to add to what's already been said, particularly to what
@Jessica Booker and
@broalabear have mentioned.
I don't think there’s a hard and fast rule, but in my experience, SWOT analysis tends to work best in well-defined scenarios (e.g. in case studies where you’re advising a hypothetical client on the risks and benefits of an investment, merger, or acquisition). It’s particularly useful when there’s a clear decision to be made, as strengths and weaknesses are easier to identify in those contexts. I tend to think of SWOT analysis as a kind of quasi cost-benefit analysis; the sort of analysis which is particularly useful when you're presented with a well-defined scenario in which a decision must be made.
On the other hand, PESTLE analysis is particularly helpful when analysing external factors influencing a business, but where there's no clear decision that you're being asked to make. For example, at my
Freshfields and Akin ACs, we were given news stories about the rise of online retail clothing stores and changes to tax policy respectively. These case studies didn't present a specific decision in relation to which I was expected to advise a client, but rather they were case studies about broader industry trends or regulatory changes. These naturally lent themselves to PESTLE, as it helped structure our thinking around political, economic, social, and technological influences, rather than just internal strengths and weaknesses.
That said, you might sometimes be asked to consider the strengths and weaknesses of a scenario in an article-based case study. If, for instance, the case study asks what the impact of X or Y happening would be. But in general, if you’re dealing with an article that discusses wider market trends or external pressures, PESTLE is likely the more useful framework.
If you’re preparing for an AC, it might help to practise recognising when each framework would be most effective based on the type of material you’re given. Hope that helps!
. Any insights would be appreciated!
