TY - JOUR AB - Purpose– This paper attempts to deploy a systematic and structural approach to examine Macau's strengths and weaknesses and to scan its external opportunities and threats. A fresh way to quantify the extent of perceived opportunities and threats is introduced here. This is adopted and modified from the quality management tool box, i.e. the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and success mode and effects analysis (SMEA).Design/methodology/approach– The internal factors, i.e. its strengths and weaknesses are systematically and structurally gauged using a Likert scale of 0 to 10 (i.e. 0 representing least important or least well performed … to 10 representing most important and best performed).Findings– Following the matching of internal factors with the external factors in the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis, a list of meaningful responses is identified as possible strategies for the Macau SAR Government. The SWOT analysis is simple to use yet powerful and flexible in responding to changes in the external environment and should be useful to organizations both in the commercial sector and government machinery.Originality/value– This innovative and structured strategic formulation approach is useful to both business practitioners and management consultants. VL - 4 IS - 1 SN - 1755-425X DO - 10.1108/17554251111110122 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/17554251111110122 AU - Koo Hannah AU - Chau Ka‐Yin AU - Koo Leung‐Chi AU - Liu Songbai AU - Tsui Shu‐Chuen PY - 2011 Y1 - 2011/01/01 TI - A structured SWOT approach to develop strategies for the government of Macau, SAR T2 - Journal of Strategy and Management PB - Emerald Group Publishing Limited SP - 62 EP - 81 Y2 - 2024/04/23 ER -