S.W.O.T.

Wendell's thread about the future of the site reminded me of an exercise that I perform internally from time to time.

A S.W.O.T. analysis is evaluating the following:

Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats

What do you thinks these will be for our profession presently and going forward? I will start.

Strengths -

1. We are needed for new land transactions.
2. Field verification is needed for most topographical surveys.

Weaknesses-

1. Poor business practices
2. The public does not understand what makes us Professionals.
3. Many Surveyors don't understand what makes us Professionals.

Opportunities-

1. Our numbers remain small and the population is growing.
2. The need to understand boundary location should always be required.

Threats-

1. Traditional Market Sectors are being eroded by technology and encroachment.
2. Surveyors are not united on what our role should be going forward.

This is not an extensive list just a way to get the discussion started. Your answers may be different based on the Market Sectors in which you practice. My greatest concern is that I believe we do not have a clear consensus of our role going forward.