Industry and sector analysis - Competitors and makets - Strategic groups

4 important questions on Industry and sector analysis - Competitors and makets - Strategic groups

What are strategic groups?

Strategic groups are organisations within the same industry or sector with similar strategic characteristics, following similar strategies or competing on similar bases. E.g. super markets, convenience stores and corner shops all form different strategic groups in the same industry.

What are the 2 major categories of characteristics that distinguish between strategic groups?

  • Scope of an organization's activities. E.g. product range, geographical coverage.
  • Resource commitment. E.g. brands, marketing spend and extent of vertical integration.

How can strategic groups be mapped?

  • Two-dimensional charts.
  • Method for choosing key dimensions for the axes is to identify top performers and compare them with low performers.
  • Characteristics that are shared between either top or low performers are relevant for mapping.
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In what 3 ways is the strategic group concept useful?

  1. Understanding competition
  2. Analysis of strategic opportunities. White spaces might be unexploited opportunities or black holes.
  3. Analysis of mobility barriers. Obstacles to movement from one strategic group to another. Equivalent to barriers of entry but within the industry.

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