SOAR analysis is a strategic planning framework that emphasizes an organization’s Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results. Unlike SWOT, which catalogs weaknesses and threats alongside strengths, SOAR focuses on current capabilities and future potential. Exploring 10 real-world SOAR examples in this guide demonstrates how SOAR drives actionable strategies and energizes every strategic planning session.
Core Elements of a SOAR Analysis
A complete SOAR analysis example dissects four key components.
- Strengths examine internal assets and unique capabilities.
- Opportunities explore external trends and market gaps.
- Aspirations define the organization’s vision, mission, and strategic desires.
- Results establish measurable goals, KPIs, and success metrics.
Together, these elements drive cohesive strategy and sustained impact.
What to Ask in Each Quadrant | |
Quadrant | Key Questions |
| Strengths | What do we do exceptionally well? What unique assets or skills set us apart? |
| Opportunities | Which market trends can we leverage? Where are the gaps in customer needs? |
| Aspirations | What inspires our team? What is our vision for the future? |
| Results | Which KPIs will define success? What targets will track our progress? |
Addressing these questions ensures a structured, insightful SOAR session that connects strengths to strategic objectives and defined outcomes.
10 Real-World SOAR Analysis Examples
Example 1: SOAR Analysis for a Tech Startup Product Launch
This SOAR analysis example explores the potential of a mobile app launch by a startup.
- Strengths: Lean development, robust API design, agile culture.
- Opportunities: Rising demand for app integrations, the underserved SMB segment.
- Aspirations: Acquire 50k active users in six months, achieve 4.5-star ratings.
- Results: Monitor daily user sign-ups, retention rates, and average revenue per user via live dashboards.
Example 2: Non-Profit Program Expansion SOAR Analysis
Here’s a SOAR analysis example in Creately to plan an educational outreach expansion for a non-profit organization:
- Strengths: Established community partnerships, volunteer network.
- Opportunities: Grant availability, digital learning platforms.
- Aspirations: Reach 5,000 students in rural areas within a year.
- Results: Track program enrollments, grant funds secured, and volunteer hours via integrated dashboards.
Example 3: SOAR Analysis of a Marketing Campaign Revamp
A SOAR analysis example to revamp its digital marketing strategy for a global brand:
- Strengths: Strong social media presence, data analytics team.
- Opportunities: Emerging influencer partnerships, new ad platforms.
- Aspirations: Increase lead generation by 40% before Q4.
- Results: Monitor click-through rates, conversion metrics, and campaign ROI.
Example 4: HR Talent Development Plan
In this SOAR analysis example, an HR team mapped a talent development roadmap using Creately:
- Strengths: Robust training programs, experienced mentors.
- Opportunities: Leadership workshops, cross-department rotations.
- Aspirations: Cultivate 100 high-potential leaders within two years.
- Results: Track promotion rates, training completion, and employee satisfaction scores.
Example 5: Supply Chain Optimization
Here’s an example of a manufacturing firm using a SOAR analysis to streamline its supply chain:
- Strengths: Vertical integration, skilled logistics team.
- Opportunities: Automation technologies, strategic vendor partnerships.
- Aspirations: Reduce lead time by 20% and cut operational costs by 10% within a year.
- Results: Monitor delivery times, cost per unit, vendor performance via live dashboards.
Example 6: Customer Support Improvement
This is a SOAR Matrix by a SaaS provider planning to enhance customer support:
- Strengths: Knowledgeable support staff, integrated ticketing system.
- Opportunities: AI chatbots, self-service resources.
- Aspirations: Achieve a 90% first-contact resolution rate.
- Results: Track resolution time, customer satisfaction (CSAT), ticket volume trends.
Example 7: M&A Integration Roadmap
Let’s take a look at this example of a corporation using the SOAR framework to guide post-merger integration in Creately:
- Strengths: Combined R&D teams, diversified product portfolio.
- Opportunities: Cross-selling channels, unified platforms.
- Aspirations: Complete integration in nine months with minimal disruption.
- Results: Monitor integration milestones, cost synergies, employee engagement metrics.
Example 8: IT Infrastructure Modernization
This is a SOAR method used to plan infrastructure upgrades by an enterprise IT department:
- Strengths: In-house expertise, scalable cloud architecture.
- Opportunities: Serverless computing, enhanced security frameworks.
- Aspirations: Migrate 80% of workloads to the cloud within 12 months.
- Results: Track migration progress, uptime improvements, cost savings benchmarks.
Example 9: Training & Onboarding Workflow
Here’s how a tech company can redesign its onboarding process using SOAR methodology:
- Strengths: Comprehensive orientation materials, mentorship program.
- Opportunities: Interactive e-learning platforms, knowledge base expansion.
- Aspirations: Onboard 95% of new hires within two weeks with full productivity.
- Results: Monitor training completion, time-to-productivity, feedback scores.
Example 10: Product Portfolio Growth Strategy
In this example, a consumer goods company uses a SOAR framework to expand its product lineup:
- Strengths: Strong brand equity, R&D pipeline.
- Opportunities: Emerging consumer trends, sustainable packaging.
- Aspirations: Launch five new SKUs in 18 months.
- Results: Track product launch timelines, sales performance, market share growth.
Best Practices for SOAR Workshops
To drive effective SOAR workshops and generate actionable outcomes, apply these best practices when planning and facilitating sessions:
- Define clear objectives: Set session goals upfront, specifying desired outputs for each quadrant to keep discussions focused and outcome-oriented.
- Use a skilled facilitator: A neutral guide maintains positive momentum, ensures balanced participation, and ties insights back to strategic goals.
- Employ data visualizations: Embed charts and real-time metrics on the SOAR canvas to anchor discussions in evidence and highlight performance trends.
- Encourage diverse perspectives: Involve stakeholders across departments and seniority levels to surface unique strengths and uncover untapped opportunities.
- Document results with linked dashboards: Connect captured insights to live dashboards in Creately, enabling ongoing monitoring and accountability.
- Schedule regular check-ins: Review the SOAR canvas at defined intervals, adjust strategies based on progress, and reinforce alignment across teams.
Implementing these practices fosters collaborative engagement, ensures session outputs translate into measurable plans, and keeps strategy aligned with evolving needs.
