Porter’s Five Forces is a framework developed by Michael Porter, a renowned strategy expert, to analyze the competitive forces shaping an industry and determine its attractiveness. The model identifies five key forces that collectively determine the intensity of competition within an industry and influence its profitability.

Here are the five forces in Porter’s model…

1. Threat of New Entrants – This force assesses the likelihood of new competitors entering the industry and disrupting the existing competitive landscape. Factors such as barriers to entry, economies of scale, capital requirements, government regulations, and brand loyalty can affect the threat of new entrants. High barriers to entry, such as high capital requirements or strong brand loyalty, can deter new competitors, whereas low barriers to entry may attract new entrants and increase competition.
2. Bargaining Power of Suppliers – This force examines the power that suppliers hold over the industry and its participants. Suppliers’ bargaining power is influenced by factors such as the concentration of suppliers, availability of substitutes, switching costs, and the importance of the supplier’s inputs to the industry. If suppliers have significant bargaining power, they can raise prices, reduce quality, or impose other unfavorable terms on industry participants, thereby reducing profitability.
3. Bargaining Power of Buyers – This force evaluates the power that buyers (customers) wield in the industry. Factors influencing buyers’ bargaining power include the concentration of buyers, the availability of substitutes, switching costs, and the importance of the product or service to the buyer’s business. When buyers have significant bargaining power, they can demand lower prices, higher quality, or better terms, thereby squeezing industry profitability.
4. Threat of Substitute Products or Services – This force considers the extent to which alternative products or services outside the industry can satisfy the needs of customers. The availability of substitutes, their quality, and their relative prices influence the threat of substitution. If there are many close substitutes available, customers may switch to alternatives, limiting the industry’s profitability.
5. Intensity of Competitive Rivalry – This force assesses the level of competition among existing industry participants. Factors such as the number of competitors, industry growth rate, differentiation among products or services, and exit barriers influence competitive rivalry. High levels of rivalry typically lead to price competition, reduced profitability, and innovation as companies strive to gain a competitive advantage.

By analyzing these five forces, organizations can gain insights into the competitive dynamics of their industry, identify strategic opportunities and threats, and formulate effective strategies to enhance their competitive position and profitability.