Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) is a strategic management tool used in the evaluation of strategic options and determination of relative attractiveness of strategies. The QSPM technique determines which of the selected strategic options is feasible, and it actually prioritizes these strategies. A basic tenet of the QSPM is that firms need to systematically assess their external and internal environments, conduct research, carefully evaluate the pros and cons of various alternatives, perform analyses, and then decide upon a particular course of action. The Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) consists of three stages that are used in the strategies formulation process. The first step is to define key strategic factors. Then, once this has been determined, a SWOT analysis, or other similar form of analysis, is performed to objectively weigh the pros and cons of each strategic factor in numerical form. Finally, based on the information found in the analysis, a Continue reading
Strategic Management Tools
Value Net Framework
The Value Net Framework, also known as Coopetition Framework is an analytical strategy tool developed by Adam Brandenburger and Gary Nalebuff in 1996, combining strategy and game theory, in order to describe and analyze the behavior of multiple players within a given industry or market. The Value Net Framework is an alternative to Porter’s Five Forces framework, extends the five forces framework more general by examining the role of complementors. The frameworks fundamental idea is that cooperation and competition coexist. Cooperation and competition are both necessary and desirable when doing business. Cooperation is required to increase benefits to all players (focus on market growth), and competition is needed to divide the existing benefits among these players (focus on market share). Co-opetition Co-opetition is a neologism representing the ambivalence of competition and cooperation in business relationships. Co-opetition is part competition and part cooperation. It describes the fact that in today’s business Continue reading
Parenting Fit Matrix
Normally multibusiness companies comprise two elements: business units, which could theoretically be independent companies, relating directly to the capital markets; and one or more layers of other line and staff managers above or outside the businesses, which we refer to collectively as “the parent”. The businesses are directly involved in value creation: they produce goods and services and attempt to sell them for more than their cost. But the parent is involved much less directly. Its ability to create value depends largely on its influence on the businesses and the way it supports them. The parent acts as an intermediary between the businesses and outside investors. It clearly incurs costs, both direct and indirect. It is therefore justified only if, through its influence, it creates more value than these costs. If it does not, businesses and shareholders would be better off without it. This bottom-up view challenges the very existence Continue reading
Tesco’s Steering Wheel: A Tool for Strategic Value Creation and Business Transformation
In early 90’s Tesco faced a stiff competition from various other retailers in the industry and thus its revenues showed a downfall. At that point Tesco could not differentiate itself from the other competitors. Later under the leadership of then CEO Ian Mac Laurin it went through an image makeover, and acquired other retailing outlets like William Low; with which it reached just up to the sustenance mark. Later Terry took over as the CEO of the Company and aimed to make the company value driven. Tesco in early 70’s had acquired a lot of other retailer companies but faced a problem of integrating them, more over Tesco stores were small and ill equipped. The company only focused on price where as the goods available at the stores were perceived to be of mediocre quality, but with rising income customers looked forward to expensive and luxury merchandise. Answering to this Continue reading
Porter’s Value Chain
The term ‘Value Chain’ was used by Michael Porter in his book “Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining superior Performance” (1985). The value chain analysis describes the activities the organization performs and links them to the organizations competitive situation. Value chain analysis describes the activities within and around an organization, and relates them to an analysis of the competitive strength of the organization. Therefore, it evaluates which value every particular activity adds to the organizations products or services. This idea was build upon the insight that an organization is more than a random compilation of machinery, equipment, people and money. Only if these things are arranged into systems and systematic activates it will turn’s possible to manufacture something for which customers are willing to pay a price. Porter argues that the capability to perform particular activities and to manage the linkages between these activities is a source of competitive advantage. Porter Continue reading
Value Chain Analysis – Porter’s Value Chain
The concept of Value Chain was propagated by Michael Porter in the 1980s in his book “Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance” (Porter, 1985), as a tool of analyzing the firm’s internal environment and resource base. Value Chain Analysis is an analytical tool that describes all activities that make up the economic performance and capabilities of the firm, used to analyze and examine activities that create value for a given firm. A firm can be conceived of an aggregation of discrete activities and the competitive edge arises based on how a firm performs these activities better than its competitors. The cluster of these activities is called the value chain. According to Porter: “Competitive advantage cannot be understood by looking at a firm as a whole. It stems from the many discrete activities a firm performs in designing, producing, marketing, delivering and supporting its product. Each of these activities can Continue reading