Porter’s Model Of ‘5’ Generic Strategies

441 Words2 Pages
It is suggested that Porter’s model of ‘5’ Generic competitive strategies can be a useful tool in the process of developing and implementing effective business strategies in organisations. Describe the core elements of this model and then illustrate how they can be used in an organisation’s strategic management process. You may select a business sector of your choice to use as an example in the essay. Michael Porter has argued that a firm's strengths ultimately fall into one of two headings: cost advantage and differentiation. By applying these strengths in either a broad or narrow scope, three generic strategies result: cost leadership, differentiation, and focus. These strategies are applied at the business unit level. They are called generic strategies because they are not firm or industry dependent. The cost leadership strategy calls for being the low cost producer in an industry for a given level of quality. The firm sells its products either at average industry prices to earn a profit higher than that of rivals, or below the average industry prices to gain market share. The cost leadership strategy usually targets a broad market. Wal-Mart is an example of a company with a cost leadership strategy. Another type for the cost based is a best value strategy where products or services are offered to a wide range of customers at the best price-value available on the market. A differentiation strategy calls for the development of a product or service that offers unique attributes that are valued by customers and that customers perceive to be better than or different from the products of the competition. Apple, for example, uses differentiation strategy. The focus strategy concentrates on a narrow segment and within that segment attempts to achieve either a cost advantage or differentiation. The premise is that the needs of the group can be
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