55 explanations
Business Analysis Frameworks
The everyday MBA toolkit: SWOT, PESTLE, Porter's Five Forces, BCG matrix, Ansoff matrix, value chain, balanced scorecard, and more.
What is SWOT Analysis?
Concept overviewSWOT analysis is a structured review of a firm's internal Strengths and Weaknesses against external Opportunities and Threats. It is the most widely used strategic planning tool because it is simple to e…
Explain SWOT Analysis in detail.
The full pictureSWOT analysis is a structured review of a firm's internal Strengths and Weaknesses against external Opportunities and Threats. It is the most widely used strategic planning tool because it is simple to e…
How is SWOT Analysis applied in real-world business decisions?
Where it shows up in practiceIn practice, sWOT analysis is a structured review of a firm's internal Strengths and Weaknesses against external Opportunities and Threats. It is the most widely used strategic planning tool…
Give a worked example of SWOT Analysis.
Worked exampleA regional grocery chain might list a strength as "deep local supplier relationships," a weakness as "no online ordering," an opportunity as "rising demand for local food," and a threat as "national chain …
What are the most common mistakes students make about SWOT Analysis?
Why this trips students upMost SWOT exercises devolve into laundry lists of generic items — "good people" as a strength, "tough competition" as a threat — that fail any test of specificity. SWOT items that are not relat…
Analyze SWOT Analysis for an MBA-style case study.
Case-style analysisFor a case-style analysis of SWOT Analysis, start with the definition and move through framework, evidence, evaluation, and recommendation.DefinitionSWOT analysis is a structured review of a firm's in…
How do you evaluate SWOT Analysis in a business strategy?
How to evaluate itA SWOT is judged on the strategies it generates, not the matrix's tidiness. If the analysis cannot produce three or four concrete strategic moves, the inputs are too generic.What we are evaluatingSWOT …
What is Porter's Five Forces?
Concept overviewPorter's Five Forces analyzes the structural attractiveness of an industry by assessing five competitive pressures that determine long-run profitability. The model explains why some industries are persis…
Explain Porter's Five Forces in detail.
The full picturePorter's Five Forces analyzes the structural attractiveness of an industry by assessing five competitive pressures that determine long-run profitability. The model explains why some industries are persis…
How is Porter's Five Forces applied in real-world business decisions?
Where it shows up in practiceIn practice, porter's Five Forces analyzes the structural attractiveness of an industry by assessing five competitive pressures that determine long-run profitability. The model explains why …
Give a worked example of Porter's Five Forces.
Worked exampleCommercial airlines historically score poorly on Five Forces: low entry barriers in some markets, powerful aircraft and fuel suppliers, price-sensitive customers, abundant substitutes, and fierce rivalry. …
What are the most common mistakes students make about Porter's Five Forces?
Why this trips students upTreating Five Forces as a snapshot ignores that forces shift; new technologies redraw entry barriers and substitutes constantly. Applying the framework at the wrong level of industry definition…
Analyze Porter's Five Forces for an MBA-style case study.
Case-style analysisFor a case-style analysis of Porter's Five Forces, start with the definition and move through framework, evidence, evaluation, and recommendation.DefinitionPorter's Five Forces analyzes the structural…
How do you evaluate Porter's Five Forces in a business strategy?
How to evaluate itA Five Forces analysis is useful when it explains specific profitability differences and points to defensive or offensive moves the firm can make to reshape one or more forces in its favor.What we are …
What is PESTLE Analysis?
Concept overviewPESTLE analysis is a scan of the macro-environmental factors that affect an organization: Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental. PESTLE identifies external forces that no f…
Explain PESTLE Analysis in detail.
The full picturePESTLE analysis is a scan of the macro-environmental factors that affect an organization: Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental. PESTLE identifies external forces that no f…
How is PESTLE Analysis applied in real-world business decisions?
Where it shows up in practiceIn practice, pESTLE analysis is a scan of the macro-environmental factors that affect an organization: Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental. PESTLE identifies…
Give a worked example of PESTLE Analysis.
Worked exampleA consumer electronics firm conducting PESTLE in a major market notes rising tariffs (political), slowing consumer credit (economic), aging demographics in core segments (social), generative AI altering pr…
What are the most common mistakes students make about PESTLE Analysis?
Why this trips students upA PESTLE that lists trends without converting them to firm-specific implications is a homework assignment, not strategy. Defaulting to global trends without filtering for which actually affect …
Analyze PESTLE Analysis for an MBA-style case study.
Case-style analysisFor a case-style analysis of PESTLE Analysis, start with the definition and move through framework, evidence, evaluation, and recommendation.DefinitionPESTLE analysis is a scan of the macro-environmen…
How do you evaluate PESTLE Analysis in a business strategy?
How to evaluate itRefresh PESTLE annually and after material macro shocks. The discipline keeps the leadership team honest about how external context is shifting beneath the strategy.What we are evaluatingPESTLE analysi…
What is BCG Growth-Share Matrix?
Concept overviewThe BCG growth-share matrix classifies a firm's business units (or products) on two axes: market growth rate and relative market share. The four quadrants — Stars, Cash Cows, Question Marks, and Dogs — g…
Explain BCG Growth-Share Matrix in detail.
The full pictureThe BCG growth-share matrix classifies a firm's business units (or products) on two axes: market growth rate and relative market share. The four quadrants — Stars, Cash Cows, Question Marks, and Dogs — g…
How is BCG Growth-Share Matrix applied in real-world business decisions?
Where it shows up in practiceIn practice, the BCG growth-share matrix classifies a firm's business units (or products) on two axes: market growth rate and relative market share. The four quadrants — Stars, Cash Cows, Qu…