Elaborative SWOT Analysis of Wikipedia – A Free Online Encyclopedia

Services by Wikipedia

Academic reference materials, a dictionary, references, novels, manuals, a travelling companion, a media group, and a storage system are just some of the resources available. Wikipedia as a free encyclopedia provides services in 3 types of diversified groups: 

• Business services
• Social Services
• Personal Services

Competitors of Wikipedia

Wikipedia is an open-source free online encyclopedia that contains entries on a wide range of topics. Its top main competitors are

• Cappex
• Teach.com
• edX 
• Apps for Good

Now that we know important facts about Wikipedia, we can look into the SWOT analysis of Wikipedia. 

SWOT Analysis of Wikipedia 

A SWOT analysis examines the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that a firm faces. SWOT Analysis is a tried-and-true tool that enables a company like Wikipedia to compare its business and performance to that of its competitors.

It will give us a strategic analysis of its internal and external environment, which is crucial for understanding the SWOT Analysis of Wikipedia.

To better understand the SWOT analysis of Wikipedia, refer to the infographics below:

Below is an explicit guide to the SWOT analysis of Wikipedia.

Strengths of Wikipedia

Wikipedia has numerous strengths that help it to thrive in the marketplace. Some of the strengths of Wikipedia are

• A Large User Database: Wikipedia has more than 1.7 billion monthly visitors with 360,754 active users on the website, and 94,368,279 persons who have registered on the company’s platform. The popularity and strength can be demonstrated by the enormous number of users.
• Source of Content: At the end of each article, Wikipedia offers a complete list of all external links so that scholars and readers can double-check the information from other sources.  
• Offers that are Integrated: Wikipedia’s core services include Wikiversity, Wikibooks, Wiktionary, and many others. It indicates that its service portfolio has been divided into multiple categories and does not rely on a single service.
• Access Editing: According to Time Magazine in 2006, Wikipedia’s open-door edit policy is one of its fundamental features. It demonstrates Wikipedia’s management adaptability and willingness to learn and correct mistakes.

Weaknesses of Wikipedia

Weaknesses are aspects of a business or brand that can be worked upon. Here are some of the weaknesses of Wikipedia:

• Issue of Authenticity and Duplicity: Many people believe that Wikipedia’s information is not replicated and that it is biased and deceptive towards some groups. It does not provide you with a complete picture or both sides of the story as it has various editors from all around the world.
• The Controversial Topics: According to a Guardian investigation from 2014, the platform has a more extensive reference list about female porn stars than accomplished female writers with an unbalanced distribution of subjects in different categories. Specific categories have more thorough information than the rest.
• Technology Language: Many people have stated that some Wikipedia pages contain technical jargon and professional jargon. Ordinary readers will find it challenging to completely grasp the notion. It is suggested that the language be user-friendly.
• Inconsistent Entries: Maximum possibility of jumbled, duplicated, or inconsistent entries as Wikipedia itself does not guarantee its accuracy.

Opportunities for Wikipedia

Though it has many weaknesses, on the other hand, Wikipedia has many opportunities. 

• Access to Editing: As it is already mentioned above, it has an open-door editing policy, allowing anyone to openly correct the information. To provide correct material to users, the platform should now expand editorial and verification access to additional people.
• Expansion of the Moderator: Wikipedia has over 6.3 million articles, all of which need to be updated on a regular basis. On the other hand, it has a small number of moderators and administrators, about 1112 to be exact. To manage the contents, it needs to have additional moderators and administrators.
• Compatibility with Platforms: Wikipedia should create partnerships with other platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Forbes, LinkedIn, and others. It means that if any of those sites have to advise their users on something, they will direct them to Wikipedia. It would boost the platform’s traffic even further.
• Detailed Information: Since Wikipedia has its presence at the international level with different moderators it is integrated with various information resources to increase detailed content.

Threats to Wikipedia

Threats have the potential to cause harm to a company. Some of the threats of Wikipedia are:

• Sources of Information Obtainment: Wikipedia typically draws information from a variety of sources, including mainstream television, newspapers, and magazines. Many people have questioned the reliability and authenticity of Wikipedia’s sources. It’s because each news channel and publication has its agenda, which might lean right or left.
• Competitors: Over the last decade, a slew of new independent and niche-focused portals has emerged. They specialize in a single field and publish the work of professionals and experts in that field. Some people now prefer to read their content rather than Wikipedia’s.
• Content Sources that Lead to Misinformation: When a source website publishes false information about anything else, users are less likely to trust Wikipedia’s sources.
• Potential Concerns: Wikipedia’s survival, accessibility, reach, overall quality, content span, and perseverance have all been identified as potential concerns.

This ends our elaborative SWOT analysis of Wikipedia. Let us conclude our learning below.