A situation (SWOT) analysis requires a firm to consider the external forces and trends that affect it. Some of these may be favorable to the organization while others may be unfavorable. Which of the following is an example of an external force? Shareholders are rewarded with a sizeable dividend check. A local government requires that all businesses within the city limits must recycle or be fined A hiring freeze is put into place. Although no one is fired, no one can be hired A goal is set to close the gap between production costs and profits. The firm buys its own fleet of trucks, so it no longer needs to hire a trucking company for distribution