In Porter's model, the five forces that shape industry competition are 1. Porter theorized that understanding both the competitive forces at play and the overall industry structure are crucial for effective, strategic decision-making, and developing a compelling competitive strategy for the future. "A healthy industry structure should be as much a competitive concern to strategists as their company's own position." Understanding Porter ' s Five Forces "Understanding the competitive forces, and their underlying causes, reveals the roots of an industry's current profitability while providing a framework for anticipating and influencing competition (and profitability) over time," Porter wrote in a Harvard Business Review article. Porter's Five Forces is considered a macro tool in business analytics – it looks at the industry's economy as whole, while a SWOT analysis is a microanalytical tool, focusing on a specific company's data and analysis. Using Porter's Five Forces in conjunction with a SWOT analysis will help you understand where your company or business fits in the industry landscape. Porter in 1979, the five forces model looks at five specific factors that determine whether or not a business can be profitable in relation to other businesses in the industry.
Originally developed by Harvard Business School's Michael E.
One way to analyze your competition – and understand your standing in your industry – is using Porter's Five Forces model. Whether you are a Fortune 500 company or a small, local business, competition has a direct influence on your success. Knowing who your competition is and how their products, services and marketing strategies affect you is critical to your survival.