A GDSS-based approach to the strategy analysis of forest industries

In this paper we present the results of a study where a GDSS-approach was used for a SWOT-based strategy analysis of the Finnish forest industries. Forest industries belong to the basic, strategic industries in the world, and they have a great importance for the Finnish economy. This study is the first part of a research program that aims at finding visions and alternative strategies in the field of forest industries, and at developing new scientific methods. The program is a learning process where one central tool is the GroupSystems-software. Thus, the contribution of the program is both methodological and gives new knowledge for forest industries. In this paper, the focus is on describing how the first part of the Finnish forest industries SWOT-analysis was conducted in a GDSS-laboratory by using the GroupSystems-tool. The study included the identification and prioritisation of the environmental change factors, i.e. threats and opportunities, faced by the Finnish forest industries in the future.