For M&A analysis, Paul Dishman advocates using an extended SWOT analysis which tailors the analysis to specific examination topics. Typical analysis topics in his extended SWOT analysis consist of: (1) market share gain, (2) market entry, (3) intellectual property, (4) financials, (5) management team,(6) owners and founders, (7) products and services, (8) manufacturing, and (9) strategic fit. Utilizing an extended SWOT analysis can take the company to a higher level of insight, revealing a clear picture of potential strategic fit and higher-quality decisions.

The “Extended SWOT Analysis” figure provides an example of what would be filled in for a hypothetical acquisition opportunity. It’s provided here as a framework.