The success of a strategy depends on doing many things well— not just a few—and integrating among them. If there is no fit among activities, there is no distinctive strategy and little sustainability.

In his five-part article, Michael Porter explores how that shift has led to the rise of mutually destructive competitive battles that damage the profitability of many companies.

All strategy is based on understanding competition. Michael Porter’s frameworks help explain how organizations can achieve superior performance in the face of competition. Strategy defines the …

Porter’s thinking on strategy has been supported by precision research into industries and companies, and has remained consistent as well as developmental. He has concentrated on different aspects at …

Feb 9, 2025 · If you’re looking to outperform in a hypercompetitive world, Michael Porter’s classic “What Is Strategy?” remains a must-read.

Mar 22, 2025 · In his classic 1996 Harvard Business Review article, What is Strategy?, Porter explains that true strategy is about being unique, making trade-offs, and building a sustainable competitive...

Moreover, the essence of strategy, according to Porter, is choosing to perform activities differently than rivals. Strategy is the creation of a unique and valuable position, involving a different set of activities.

The success of a strategy depends on doing many things well— not just a few—and integrating among them. If there is no fit among activities, there is no distinctive strategy and little sustainability.

Operational effectiveness and strategy are both essential to superior performance, which, after all, is the primary goal of any enterprise. But they work in very different ways.

For more than three decades, Harvard Professor Michael Porter has been developing and refining the essential frameworks that explain how competition works and its implications for strategy in …