Competitive Strategy

Author: Michael Porter (USA)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: High praise from global celebrities for Professor Porter! Porter has permeated his theories into all aspects of business and the market, and has had a direct and significant impact on the strategies and competition of many companies and enterprises. His keen insight into the economy can help large enterprises fully understand the key factors of competition. — Raymond, CEO and President of Merck
Porter has a very clear understanding of strategic planning. He helped us clarify how to provide value to customers and how our organization should create and maintain competitive advantages in the market. — John A. Young, former President and CEO of HP Technology
Whether as a sharp-minded, imaginative thinker, an influential writer, a genius teacher, Michael Porter is fully worthy of being elected as Harvard University’s "Highest Honored Professor." His research has spanned many fields, including the study of global competitiveness and the exploration of human health issues. Now as a "Professor," his vigorous energy and talent for research will benefit many research disciplines at Harvard University. — Neil L. Rudenstine, President of Harvard University
Michael Porter is the world’s most influential master of strategic management. Undergraduates in economics, MBA students, and lecturers in business schools regard Porter’s works as classics, while managers hope to find the surefire way to gain competitive advantages in Porter’s writings. — British PeopleManagement magazine
Porter almost completely agrees with the timeless tenet of international economics: the principle of comparative advantage. Based on this theory, he has developed a comprehensive theory of competitive advantage, using it to teach numerous companies, cities, regions, and countries, as well as coordinated groups of nations, how to compete on the global stage. — Global authoritative financial magazine World Business
This book begins with an introduction to comprehensive methods and techniques for analyzing industries and competitors, then systematically examines the competitive strategies in fragmented industries, emerging industries, mature industries, declining industries, and global industries. The latter part of the book introduces analytical techniques required for companies when facing major strategic decisions: vertical integration, business capability expansion, divestment, and entering new business areas. It helps managers predict and prepare for sudden actions by competitors, new entrants in their own industry, and transformations in the industry structure. What drives competition in an industry? How will competitors act? How will the industry develop? How will strategic planners respond to competitors’ actions? In the long term, how can a company always maintain the most favorable competitive position?
Michael Porter’s Competitive Strategy is a great work that discusses the most popular business concept in the world today—competitive strategy. This book addresses the key questions most concerned by corporate management and comprehensively presents a series of analytical techniques for understanding business and competitors. In a step-by-step manner, Porter provides techniques and tools for analyzing industries and competitors. Here are some examples:
- The fundamental factors that determine the characteristics of competition in business;
- Three basic industry competitive strategies: cost leadership, differentiation, and focus;
- How to identify and respond to "market signals" from competitors;
- Predicting the development of industry structure;
- The costs, risks, and rewards of "preemptive strategies";
- Effective competition in emerging markets;
- Choosing to enter new industries.
Starting from the analysis of any industry and any type of competitor, this book further focuses on the competitive strategies in fragmented industries, emerging industries, mature industries, declining industries, and global industries. In the latter part of the book, it discusses the analytical techniques required for companies when making important strategic decisions, including vertical integration, business expansion, diversification, and entering new industries.