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On Competition
For the past fifteen years, Michael Porter's work has defined our fundamental understanding of competition and competitive strategy. Presented here for the first time as a collective whole are a dozen articles -- two entirely new pieces together with ten of Porter's articles from the Harvard Business Review, as well as an introduction from Porter, his first statement on how the parts of his work fit together.To read through this collection is to experience Porter at work: we see firsthand as his important theories take shape, deepen, and evolve over time. Porter addresses the important issues of competition, from company strategy to the relationship between competition and environmental regulation to the counterintuitive role of geography in the global economy.
At once eloquent and convincing, these essays help us to examine and understand the essence of competition. "On Competition offers the intellectual foundations for company and country strategies for the years ahead.
At once eloquent and convincing, these essays help us to examine and understand the essence of competition. "On Competition offers the intellectual foundations for company and country strategies for the years ahead.
485 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
160 people are currently reading
1909 people want to read
About the author
Michael E. Porter
126 books764 followersMichael E. Porter is the leading authority on competitive strategy, the competitiveness and economic development of nations, states, and regions, and the application of competitive principles to social problems such as health care, the environment, and corporate responsibility.
Professor Porter is generally recognized as the "Father of Strategy", as has been identified in a variety of rankings and surveys as the world’s most influential thinker on management and competitiveness. He has ranked #1 on "Thinkers 50".
He is the Bishop William Lawrence University Professor, based at Harvard Business School. A University full-professorship is the highest professional recognition that can be awarded to a Harvard faculty member.
In 2001, Harvard Business School and Harvard University jointly created the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, dedicated to furthering Porter’s work.
Professor Porter is the author of 17 books and over 125 articles. He is the founder of elite strategy consulting firm, the Monitor Group.
He received a B.S.E. with high honors in aerospace and mechanical engineering from Princeton University in 1969, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi. He received an M.B.A. with high distinction in 1971 from the Harvard Business School, where he was a George F. Baker Scholar, and a Ph.D. in Business Economics from Harvard University in 1973.
Professor Porter is generally recognized as the "Father of Strategy", as has been identified in a variety of rankings and surveys as the world’s most influential thinker on management and competitiveness. He has ranked #1 on "Thinkers 50".
He is the Bishop William Lawrence University Professor, based at Harvard Business School. A University full-professorship is the highest professional recognition that can be awarded to a Harvard faculty member.
In 2001, Harvard Business School and Harvard University jointly created the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, dedicated to furthering Porter’s work.
Professor Porter is the author of 17 books and over 125 articles. He is the founder of elite strategy consulting firm, the Monitor Group.
He received a B.S.E. with high honors in aerospace and mechanical engineering from Princeton University in 1969, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi. He received an M.B.A. with high distinction in 1971 from the Harvard Business School, where he was a George F. Baker Scholar, and a Ph.D. in Business Economics from Harvard University in 1973.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 25, 2011
Well, it is hard to get through the pages filled with smart ideas but it is definitely worth applying some efforts. After reading only 1/3 of the book I already have all ideas about competition structured in my head.
September 6, 2022
If you can't obtain an MBA from Harvard Business School (HBS) due to cost, time or ability, then the next best thing might be to invest in the published works of HBS leaders. Michael Porter is one HBS author frequently quoted in other business books. On Competition: Updated and Expanded Edition captures the essence of his decades of research and thinking on the topic.
Each chapter represents an individual publication dating back to 1985. I have to admit that I had doubts that decades-old information would be relevant to today's business environment. However, the topics are timeless, even though the case studies can periodically seem woefully caught in a time warp. Remember, the "new facsimile services such as Federal Express's Zapmail"?
Classic thinking, such as the Five Forces that Shape Industry Competition, are worth reflecting on. In addition to industry rivals these include customers, suppliers, potential entrants and substitute products. Any business manager who neglects to consider the potential power of forces beyond industry rivals runs the risk of managing an unprofitable, and potentially failing, business.
Porter defines competitive strategy as "deliberately choosing a different set of activities to deliver a unique mix of value." He cautions that if there are no trade-offs, companies will never achieve sustainable advantage. "The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do."
His chapter on "Strategy and the Internet" from 2001 cautions that "the Internet is not necessarily a blessing. It tends to alter industry structures in ways that dampen overall profitability." The publishing and music industries are just two examples that come to mind eight years after first printing these words.
His chapters "Green and Competitive" and "Refining Competition in Health Care" are timely even though they were written in 1995 and 2004, respectively.
His chapter on corporate philanthropy cautions companies on using giving as a mere form of public relations or advertising to promote a company's image or brand. Porter suggests that corporations can use their charitable efforts to improve their competitive context and cites Cisco Systems efforts to develop the Cisco Networking Academy which operates in secondary schools, community colleges and community-based organizations.
Finally, his "Seven Surprises for New CEOs" is insightful and a must read for those in a leadership position, those reporting to new leaders and those aspiring to advance beyond middle management.
I summary, you will feel as if you've completed a rigorous three-credit business school course if you successfully navigate this book to completion.
Access Gene Babon's reviews of books on Business Leadership and Business Strategy at Pinterest.
Each chapter represents an individual publication dating back to 1985. I have to admit that I had doubts that decades-old information would be relevant to today's business environment. However, the topics are timeless, even though the case studies can periodically seem woefully caught in a time warp. Remember, the "new facsimile services such as Federal Express's Zapmail"?
Classic thinking, such as the Five Forces that Shape Industry Competition, are worth reflecting on. In addition to industry rivals these include customers, suppliers, potential entrants and substitute products. Any business manager who neglects to consider the potential power of forces beyond industry rivals runs the risk of managing an unprofitable, and potentially failing, business.
Porter defines competitive strategy as "deliberately choosing a different set of activities to deliver a unique mix of value." He cautions that if there are no trade-offs, companies will never achieve sustainable advantage. "The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do."
His chapter on "Strategy and the Internet" from 2001 cautions that "the Internet is not necessarily a blessing. It tends to alter industry structures in ways that dampen overall profitability." The publishing and music industries are just two examples that come to mind eight years after first printing these words.
His chapters "Green and Competitive" and "Refining Competition in Health Care" are timely even though they were written in 1995 and 2004, respectively.
His chapter on corporate philanthropy cautions companies on using giving as a mere form of public relations or advertising to promote a company's image or brand. Porter suggests that corporations can use their charitable efforts to improve their competitive context and cites Cisco Systems efforts to develop the Cisco Networking Academy which operates in secondary schools, community colleges and community-based organizations.
Finally, his "Seven Surprises for New CEOs" is insightful and a must read for those in a leadership position, those reporting to new leaders and those aspiring to advance beyond middle management.
I summary, you will feel as if you've completed a rigorous three-credit business school course if you successfully navigate this book to completion.
Access Gene Babon's reviews of books on Business Leadership and Business Strategy at Pinterest.
January 14, 2013
While still in his twenties as a Harvard graduate student in the 1970s, Porter discovered (as opposed to constructed) many of the fundamental strategic drivers of successful organizations including generic strategy, the taxonomy of growth, stability and retrenchment strategies, and much more which finally made planning into true strategic planning. This book is a summary of his work since.
July 2, 2019
The excellent book is full of dense idea. I've read his earlier book on Strategy, but this book is as equally educational. My biggest takeaway was his take on national competitions. Many concepts get thrown around by news and economists, from the exchange rate, interest rates, government deficit, cheap labor supply, etc. He dismisses those macroeconomic effects. Instead, he focuses on productivity and the supplier side in microeconomics. Industry cluster that happens not always at the national level but geographical level driven by local competition takes a decisive role in the overall nation's competitiveness. That idea is brilliant. I also like his take on the necessity we need to look at it from a long term approach of 10-20 years to develop a healthy industry.
There's one thing I have to add though. The book covering the time of early 2000s, his take on Internet seems weak. He promoted AOL model of charging information access which was completely wrong by free information movement of Google. I think he missed out on the population size of the Internet, which enabled the advertising model. I don't want to downgrade the author's ability at all, but it just shows how difficult to assess the impact of surging technology.
There's one thing I have to add though. The book covering the time of early 2000s, his take on Internet seems weak. He promoted AOL model of charging information access which was completely wrong by free information movement of Google. I think he missed out on the population size of the Internet, which enabled the advertising model. I don't want to downgrade the author's ability at all, but it just shows how difficult to assess the impact of surging technology.
September 28, 2024
اگر دنبال یک آشنایی اولیه از خوشهها هستید و همینطور دنبال این هستید که نظرات پورتر رو در خصوص مدیریت استراتژیک و خوشههای صنعتی بدونید شاید به عنوان مقدمه منبع خوبی به حساب بیاد.
به عنوان اولین کتابی که ر رابطه با خوشههای صنعتی مطالعه کردم پاسخ بخش مهمی از سوالاتم را داد. به خصوص بخش دوم کتاب که به طور خاص به خوشهها پرداخته بود مثالهایی داشت. کتاب از جمله کتابهایی است که زمان مسئولیت آقای نهاوندیان از طرف اتاق بازرگانی ترجمه و منتشر شده است. به طور کلی آن دوره مطالب مفیدی منتشر شد. متاسفانه حجم کتاب نسبت به نسخه اصلی آن که بیش از ۵۰۰ صفحه است در ترجمه خیلی کم شده اما شاید اگر همین حجم لاغر نبود با شوق کمتری میرفتم سمتش.
به عنوان اولین کتابی که ر رابطه با خوشههای صنعتی مطالعه کردم پاسخ بخش مهمی از سوالاتم را داد. به خصوص بخش دوم کتاب که به طور خاص به خوشهها پرداخته بود مثالهایی داشت. کتاب از جمله کتابهایی است که زمان مسئولیت آقای نهاوندیان از طرف اتاق بازرگانی ترجمه و منتشر شده است. به طور کلی آن دوره مطالب مفیدی منتشر شد. متاسفانه حجم کتاب نسبت به نسخه اصلی آن که بیش از ۵۰۰ صفحه است در ترجمه خیلی کم شده اما شاید اگر همین حجم لاغر نبود با شوق کمتری میرفتم سمتش.
January 21, 2024
DNF. Too much theory, too dense, and too dry for practicing executives or entrepreneurs. Might make MBAs or academic types sound smarter in meetings, but for the rest I’d pass on this one. Read Joan Magretta’s Porter distillation book or Andy Grove’s books instead.
July 9, 2015
Great one :)
January 9, 2015
boring read.
October 6, 2020
Strategy strategy strategy! Got strategy? Since i started reading this book i began using the word "strategy" every day in all kinds of conversations. Porter really got to me.
The way he talks about strategy is somehow different from the other authors i've read. With this book i can feel the need for strategy, the risks are real. You either set a viable strategy and claw your way to differentiation or you die a slow death of price wars and endless efficiency optimizations that are matched by competitors almost instantly. Porter paints a gruesome picture and it made me really think.
But all that is just the beginning of the book, probably the first couple of chapters. After reading those and feeling closure i wondered what was in the remaining dozen chapters. He talks about all sorts of subjects: the effect of the emergence of the internet on industries, corporate strategy in terms of mergers and acquisitions, competition across locations, globalization, competition of nations, policy, philantropy, social responsibility and ends with advice for new CEOs. Man, i did not expect that i would thorougly enjoy reading about each and every one of those subjects. But i did and it was amazing.
The way he talks about strategy is somehow different from the other authors i've read. With this book i can feel the need for strategy, the risks are real. You either set a viable strategy and claw your way to differentiation or you die a slow death of price wars and endless efficiency optimizations that are matched by competitors almost instantly. Porter paints a gruesome picture and it made me really think.
But all that is just the beginning of the book, probably the first couple of chapters. After reading those and feeling closure i wondered what was in the remaining dozen chapters. He talks about all sorts of subjects: the effect of the emergence of the internet on industries, corporate strategy in terms of mergers and acquisitions, competition across locations, globalization, competition of nations, policy, philantropy, social responsibility and ends with advice for new CEOs. Man, i did not expect that i would thorougly enjoy reading about each and every one of those subjects. But i did and it was amazing.
November 13, 2019
For the past two decades, Michael Porter's work has towered over the field of competitive strategy. On Competition, Updated and Expanded Edition brings together more than a dozen of Porter's landmark articles from the Harvard Business Review. Five are new to this edition, including the 2008 update to his classic "The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy," as well as new work on health care, philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, and CEO leadership.
This collection captures Porter's unique ability to bridge theory and practice. Each of the articles has not only shaped thinking, but also redefined the work of practitioners in its respective field. In an insightful new introduction, Porter relates each article to the whole of his thinking about competition and value creation, and traces how that thinking has deepened over time.
https://www.fahasa.com/
This collection captures Porter's unique ability to bridge theory and practice. Each of the articles has not only shaped thinking, but also redefined the work of practitioners in its respective field. In an insightful new introduction, Porter relates each article to the whole of his thinking about competition and value creation, and traces how that thinking has deepened over time.
https://www.fahasa.com/
January 27, 2023
Porter is an essential read for anyone teaching or practicing business strategy. Porter always brings one fundamental truth to his writing: strategy, whether in warfare or in business, is a brutal knife fight with your opponents. No one is going to willingly roll over and allow you to take market share, customers, or potential revenue. Porter recognizes that simple fact and doesn't try to gloss over it with buzzwords and bullshit. He gets right to the point and drills it home with style.
September 30, 2018
Замечательный труд! Немного устарел сейчас, но как база, он бесценен.
February 21, 2019
Food for thought
Want to read
August 12, 2019Did you expect Porter to rest on his laurels? The Harvard Business guru updated his work for today's economic climate and changing marketplace.
November 22, 2019
This book is not a quick read. However, the book is quiet thought provoking. While this book is not for everyone, I did enjoy the book.
May 9, 2023
Like all Porter's books dense, but insightful on a diversity of topics needed to better understand business and the systems around business.
December 15, 2023
I picked this up because it is on a strategist reading list. Very business focused and not for someone looking at broader strategy development.
October 29, 2024
Remarkable depth.
April 27, 2015
A lot of this book makes sense just logical and practical
However unless you are deeply involved in the process of developing a key competitive advantage from analysing your own industry and there by trying to figure out the main factors of production
And then trying to build a culture for innovation you need to READ this book
Read it cover to cover
There is so much information and knowledge and experience and related case studies of the largest corporations that every page has some sort of take away
I have studies strategy previously and in great detail so a lot of the 5 Forces are not new at all
Application of these is the key
This is the book which can teach you a renewed focus on strategy and on your thought process
My favourite chapter was Chap 15...
You will have to read and see why
The section on CSR is a complete game changer, corporate social responsibility is no longer a place to simply throw money. Careful thought process can actually yield long term competitive and other sustainable advantages for the localised company as well as the society at large
This book is a must read
A must read
However unless you are deeply involved in the process of developing a key competitive advantage from analysing your own industry and there by trying to figure out the main factors of production
And then trying to build a culture for innovation you need to READ this book
Read it cover to cover
There is so much information and knowledge and experience and related case studies of the largest corporations that every page has some sort of take away
I have studies strategy previously and in great detail so a lot of the 5 Forces are not new at all
Application of these is the key
This is the book which can teach you a renewed focus on strategy and on your thought process
My favourite chapter was Chap 15...
You will have to read and see why
The section on CSR is a complete game changer, corporate social responsibility is no longer a place to simply throw money. Careful thought process can actually yield long term competitive and other sustainable advantages for the localised company as well as the society at large
This book is a must read
A must read
July 6, 2008
I think i have half read this book. It means that i can say i have open the book and read some part of it. But if it said that i know some the point Porter try to say, I can say yes. But there are a lot more for me to say that i got all the points Porter wanna say.
Bila Gidden pernah mengemukakan istilah stucturationist maka pendekatan Porter dalam menentukan competitiveness itu berdasarkan struktur pasar, bukan berdasarkan pendekatan lain yang menekankan pada unit (agen atau dalam studi manajemen akan menjadi perusahaan).
Buku penting bagi mereka yang mau membuka usaha, karena pesannya adalah lihatlah struktur pasar dan baru menentukan nilai peluang usahanya. Bisa menjadi pegangan untuk menjawab, "mengapa di tengah struktur mapan dunia usaha penyedia jasa seluler masih ada perusahaan yang mencoba masuk?" Perusahaan baru ini tentunya melihat celah dalam struktur yang berkesan mapan itu.
Bila Gidden pernah mengemukakan istilah stucturationist maka pendekatan Porter dalam menentukan competitiveness itu berdasarkan struktur pasar, bukan berdasarkan pendekatan lain yang menekankan pada unit (agen atau dalam studi manajemen akan menjadi perusahaan).
Buku penting bagi mereka yang mau membuka usaha, karena pesannya adalah lihatlah struktur pasar dan baru menentukan nilai peluang usahanya. Bisa menjadi pegangan untuk menjawab, "mengapa di tengah struktur mapan dunia usaha penyedia jasa seluler masih ada perusahaan yang mencoba masuk?" Perusahaan baru ini tentunya melihat celah dalam struktur yang berkesan mapan itu.
November 30, 2015
A collection of Michael Porter's articles from over the years. It had a surprisingly large focus on potential benefits to society through private sector competition which was very engaging for me. Through his use of examples he is able to demonstrate effectively what he terms positive sum competition for both the private sector and non-profits. He also lays out guidelines for what he believes the role of government in business should be, as facilitators and regulators instead of attempting to drive down costs through direct or indirect funding. As well Porter's Five Forces, Value Chain Analysis, and Diamond Theory all provide excellent tools for analysis and strategic planning.
May 8, 2014
Great book on strategy and competition. Competition is a great thing. It pushes everyone else to upgrade and innovate and companies should welcome it. In the competitive landscape, firms should discover the processes that can help define a real strategy, which is very different from benchmarking, as well as being much more difficult to emulate. Michael Porter has been around a long time and his work on strategy and clusters are classic, and yet still highly relevant.
January 22, 2015
I may regard him as the most important book-writer in management-field. His name is easily found in many books. And this book itself offers a good approach to perceive what competition is, though (as it happened to every books) many are still criticizing him.
But still, this writing has a very big influence in shaping my perspective on business competition.
But still, this writing has a very big influence in shaping my perspective on business competition.
March 25, 2011
Great book on the bottom-up building of competitiveness for countries and regions. Very significant not just to governments but to every party involved in the supply chain.
The books is only worth 5 stars with the harvard case studies tough...
The books is only worth 5 stars with the harvard case studies tough...
January 11, 2016
Read this for an "Accounting for Management" class at my university. This book, and the class in general, added some much-appreciated perspective to my business education, especially as an Accounting major.
January 1, 2011
I re-read this after 22 years and it is still the cornerstone of any serious study of sustainable strategic advantage.
April 20, 2011
One of my favorite thinkers and business writers.
Read
May 9, 2014the innovation
August 3, 2014
Business school bible
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews