SWOT Analysis for the Sporting Catamaran Sailing Community

Strength
There is only limited number of websites concerning the sporting catamaran sailing at this moments, therefore, this proposal provides information (Ex. Event, gear, meteorology) and opportunity to communicate (Ex. Finding crew, discussing, chatting) in this subject.
Members are given the ability to publishing contents, such as uploading photo or editing article. Moreover, members are categorized into subgroup based on sailing club he/she belongs to (related to license number), so as to they are able to access special forum rooms, special article, news, classified, photo, and event specific to the club they belong to.
Members sometimes meet in real life, therefore, it can be popular by word of mouth.

Weakness
As clients mentioned, members are given the ability of uploading news or photos, some malicious behavior might be seen. This community is small therefore, their financial plan (operating cost will come from banner, contracts with sailing gear shops, fees on the online race registration service that is not implemented in this phase) might not enough.

Opportunities
As members are enabled to modify the contents, this community has possibility to grow up and enrich by themselves.
Online registration system and buying system might bring certain amount of profit; moreover, this community might be a gateway of catamaran sailing race.

Threats
The number of users is not so large and they can communicate each other in real world. Therefore, bad rumor (such as luck of security management or leakage of personal information) might influence quickly and they might away this community. This situation will cause serious impact on this community, as the number of users is limited due to the nature of this community.

Implementation Suggestion


Login issue
According to client proposal, they have mentioned that all users are required to use login and password in order to participate in the community. However each tools used in community has its own login mechanism. As a results user will have to login for each part of the community services that is provided by different tools. This brings about inconvenience to user. For the expediency operation single sign on should be implemented, this way users login when the first entry to communities. Once they login they can access each community functions without any more authorization.

Sponsor issue
In order to develop and maintenance communities, the budget is the most important factor to be concerned. Apart of charge from member, sponsor ads such as Banner posed in the community website would be a great alternative way.