A SOAR analysis can be conducted in several ways.
Following is a common approach.
1. Identify a situation that an organization needs
to address. For example, perhaps it is a change
in the organization’s funding structure or change
in community needs.
2. Hand out large sticky notes to participants and
ask them to list the organization’s strengths —
one comment to each note.
3. Collect the notes. Post and discuss them as
a group.
4. Next, do the same thing for opportunities,
aspirations, and possible results.
5. The topics and sequence of topics should help
the group better discuss the issue at hand and
lead into a more detailed conversation about
possible measurable results and outcomes.
Reference: Heartland Center for Leadership Development. (2004). Dis-
covering the future of your hometown – workshop manual. Workshop
sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.
SOAR analysis (strengths, opportunities, aspirations,
results) is a relatively new, more positive, asset-based
technique than the traditional SWOT (strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis. It allows
for a more focused discussion on the positive aspects
of organizational development and community assets.
SOAR analysis leverages strengths and opportunities
to create shared aspirations and measurable results.
SOAR helps groups to:
• Reach for a vision.
• Serve the group’s mission.
• Achieve goals and objectives by identifying
measurable results.
• Develop a plan to help the group deliver on
its mission and goals/objectives while reaching
for the vision.
• Implement an action plan.
A comparison between the traditional SWOT and
new SOAR techniques is listed in the table below.
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Working with Groups:
SOAR Analysis
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION AND COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. NEB#9SOARAnalysis
Source: Working with Groups: Generating Ideas, Making Decisions, and Enhancing Commmunication, by Phyllis I. Schoenholz and Cheryl A.
Burkhart-Kriesel, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, EC478, 2008, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States
Department of Agriculture. Adapted with permission.
Contrast between SOAR and SWOT approaches
SOAR
Strengths: What are our greatest assets?
Opportunities: What are the best possible
market opportunities?
Aspirations: What is our preferred future?
Results: What are the measurable results?
SWOT
Strengths: Where can we outperform others?
Weaknesses: Where can others outperform us?
Opportunities: How can we exploit the market?
Threats: What/who might take our market?
