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1 – 10 of over 27000
Article
Publication date: 1 April 1986

The Nature of Business Policy Business policy — or general management — is concerned with the following six major functions:

2052

Abstract

The Nature of Business Policy Business policy — or general management — is concerned with the following six major functions:

Details

Management Decision, vol. 24 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Article
Publication date: 9 December 2019

Manuel Hensmans

An essential corporate decision-making tool, the Boston Consulting Group's growth-share matrix, is due for an upgrade. The purpose of this paper is to upgrade this growth matrix

1449

Abstract

Purpose

An essential corporate decision-making tool, the Boston Consulting Group's growth-share matrix, is due for an upgrade. The purpose of this paper is to upgrade this growth matrix for use by corporate managers in the current platform age. Designed in the conglomerate age of the 1960s and 1970s to help corporate managers make disciplined and systematic portfolio investment decisions, the matrix is ill-adapted to the platform age in which we now live. The most valuable companies in the world are now platform companies, and many companies are transitioning to a more platform-based corporate portfolio. In this paper, the author explains how corporate managers can build and execute a sustainable platform portfolio.

Design/methodology/approach

The author started with a thorough study of the contextual assumptions and theoretical background of the original Boston Consulting Group growth-share matrix (which the author has been teaching for the past decade). He contrasted these with the assumptions and theoretical background developed in the platform strategy literature. To test and refine the framework, the author presented and discussed its applicability at companies such as GSK and with local consultants. He then used five consecutive cohorts of master students [280 students (70 groups)] to test this framework on a total of 20 companies (both “born platform” and “product to platform” companies).

Findings

The platform ecosystem age requires a corporate decision-making matrix that discriminates between businesses on the basis of platform market growth and platform commercialization capability, rather than product market growth and market share. As in the original matrix, these businesses correspond to three different investment horizons (Figure 1): the continuous renewal of blockbuster business, the integration of emerging killer businesses and the experimentation with joint innovation businesses. This paper helps corporate managers build and execute a sustainable platform portfolio by means of a sequence of six decision-making steps and a clear organizational template for successful execution.

Originality/value

The portfolio matrix, decision-making sequence and organizational execution advice presented in this paper are fit for both “born platform” companies such as Google (Alphabet) and “product to platform” hybrids such as Lego. The paper illustrates this with practical examples for both types of companies.

Details

Journal of Business Strategy, vol. 42 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0275-6668

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 1 May 2018

Steve Fairbanks and Aaron Buchko

Strategy Question: How do I assess the “market health” of my products or services?Summary: This isn’t really a new tool per se, as it is based on the original Boston Consulting…

Abstract

Strategy Question: How do I assess the “market health” of my products or services?

Summary: This isn’t really a new tool per se, as it is based on the original Boston Consulting Group’s GrowthShare matrix and General Electric/McKinsey Consulting 9-box version. We base our tool on the 9-box version that plots a point for each product/service form relative to our preferred elements of “Competitive Position” and “Market Attractiveness.” The chapter explains how to breakdown the products/services, construct plot points for the matrix (in qualitative fashion that most companies can easily construct) for both the “competitive position” and “market attractiveness” metrics. The tool consists of a one-page, 3 × 3 matrix along with a process to gather, assess, and organize the information so the strategist can determine how the various products and services of the business are positioned in the respective markets, how well each is performing, how much each contributes to overall firm performance, which have potential for future performance, and what types of approaches might be appropriate for allocating resources. Once products/services are respectively plotted and grouped in common ways suggested, the output is extremely helpful in framing the competitive state and providing a baseline for constructive intercompany debate.

Details

Performance-Based Strategy
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78743-796-8

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 1990

Gordon Wills, Sherril H. Kennedy, John Cheese and Angela Rushton

To achieve a full understanding of the role ofmarketing from plan to profit requires a knowledgeof the basic building blocks. This textbookintroduces the key concepts in the art…

16054

Abstract

To achieve a full understanding of the role of marketing from plan to profit requires a knowledge of the basic building blocks. This textbook introduces the key concepts in the art or science of marketing to practising managers. Understanding your customers and consumers, the 4 Ps (Product, Place, Price and Promotion) provides the basic tools for effective marketing. Deploying your resources and informing your managerial decision making is dealt with in Unit VII introducing marketing intelligence, competition, budgeting and organisational issues. The logical conclusion of this effort is achieving sales and the particular techniques involved are explored in the final section.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 28 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 April 2009

Peter Laimer and Juergen Weiss

The present paper aims mainly to target policy makers in the tourism industry. It seeks to give an overview about using the Portfolio Analysis (PFA) as a tool for analysing…

1116

Abstract

Purpose

The present paper aims mainly to target policy makers in the tourism industry. It seeks to give an overview about using the Portfolio Analysis (PFA) as a tool for analysing tourism flows based on the official accommodation statistics of Statistics Austria, which is electronically available for a 35‐year time series, for more than 1,600 communes, for 15 kinds of accommodation establishments and for more than 60 markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Large quantitative data sets deliver a holistic picture of tourism developments by taking several describing variables into account. Multivariate scatter plots using static and dynamic indicators are used as graphical illustration of these data sets.

Findings

Based on this comprehensive data set it turns out that the use of portfolio matrices is a useful tool for doing detailed and multidimensional analysis of the available data. Portfolio matrices may be focused on specific questions regarding the status quo of a region or the development of selected markets. In contrast to traditional methods of constituting and publishing tourism statistical data PFA fills potential information gaps by focusing on different variables considering a respective period of time. The paper presents example results for Austria, by using tourism flow, positioning and benchmark analysis.

Research limitations/implications

The results concern data of the official statistics on overnights and arrivals. However, the approach might be used for similar work concentrating on alternative data sets.

Practical implications

The main user's value is receiving information obtained by integrated statistical data. This information is graphically illustrated and therefore easy to interpret, although it is based on highly integrated data of high quality and internal consistency. Depending on the field of interest various combinations of data presentations are feasible.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the general problem of bringing theoretical models closer to decision maker's needs. It fills potential information gaps of what official statistics are capable of delivering and what is indeed requested by decision makers.

Details

Tourism Review, vol. 64 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1660-5373

Keywords

Abstract

Details

Comprehensive Strategic Management
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78714-225-1

Article
Publication date: 1 February 1981

Donald L. McLagan

Concepts award market share the key position in the determination of competitive profitability. However, the strategic planning concepts of the experience curve, the market share

Abstract

Concepts award market share the key position in the determination of competitive profitability. However, the strategic planning concepts of the experience curve, the market share/profitability correspondence, and the growth/share matrix were developed during pre‐OPEC years. While the Strategic Planning Institute and The Boston Consulting Group have taken their applications far beyond the initial concepts, it is simplified theories, not their more sophisticated elaborations, which are being popularized and used in many of today's planning processes.

Details

Planning Review, vol. 9 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0094-064X

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1985

Kenneth Davidson

Strategic investment theory establishes a framework for discussing the benefits of acquisitions. However, these theories do not provide automatic answers to investment questions.

Abstract

Strategic investment theory establishes a framework for discussing the benefits of acquisitions. However, these theories do not provide automatic answers to investment questions.

Details

Journal of Business Strategy, vol. 6 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0275-6668

Content available
Article
Publication date: 15 June 2017

Jeronimo Esteve-Perez and Antonio Garcia-Sanchez

Cruise traffic has dynamically advanced worldwide over the past two decades. This maritime business and tourism typology is strongly concentrated in several links that comprise…

1933

Abstract

Purpose

Cruise traffic has dynamically advanced worldwide over the past two decades. This maritime business and tourism typology is strongly concentrated in several links that comprise the cruise product. With regard to destination regions, the concentration occurs both in the few worldwide destination regions and in the specific ports within a given destination region. Moreover, in a cruise itinerary’s configuration, there is a strong spatial dependence between the ports that comprise it. Taking these into account, the aims of this paper are to identify the current competitive positions of Spanish cruise ports and to explain the different features of the competitive positions obtained.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 21 Spanish ports is selected to conduct a competitive positioning analysis. The analysis is developed by applying portfolio analysis based on the “growth-share matrix” adapted to the port industry. Moreover, the sample of ports is divided into three groups based on geographical positions of ports on the Spanish coast, and each group is analysed separately.

Findings

The three Spanish coastal areas have a behavioural pattern in which few ports concentrate the greater share of the cruising activity. The highest number of competitive positions are mature leader and high potential. In the three Spanish coastal areas, there are ports with these positions. Additionally, there are homeports available in the three coastal areas.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the research of the cruise industry sector especially from the point of view of cruise ports. The results obtained may be useful to cruise port managers for developing strategies aimed at increasing cruise traffic in a port.

Details

Maritime Business Review, vol. 2 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2397-3757

Keywords

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