Final answer:
In a SWOT analysis, a highly regarded brand would be listed b. as a strength because it is an internal characteristic that provides a competitive advantage in the market.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a typical SWOT analysis, a firm's highly regarded brand would be listed b. as a strength. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
A well-respected brand name that has been carefully built up over many years is certainly an asset to a company, contributing to customer loyalty and allowing the company to potentially command higher prices for its products or services.
This kind of brand equity is considered a strength because it is an internal characteristic of the firm that gives it an advantage in the market.
Two other aspects that often feature in a SWOT analysis include opportunities such as an industry where economies of scale are very small compared to the size of demand in the market, and threats like a well-established reputation for slashing prices in response to new entry.
Opportunities and threats are external factors. The strengths and weaknesses are internal factors that represent what a company has to work with, while opportunities and threats are external conditions that a company must anticipate and respond to.