STRATEGYMonths to result

Company Position/Industry Attractiveness Screen

Portfolio Evaluation

Problem it solves

unclear strategic direction

Best for

Businesses with multiple products or services

Not ideal for

Small businesses or startups with limited resources

Overview

Why this framework exists

The Company Position/Industry Attractiveness Screen is a framework used to evaluate a company's portfolio of products or services. It categorizes products into three categories based on their industry attractiveness and company position. The framework helps businesses allocate resources, identify areas for investment, and determine which products to harvest or divest.

Core principles

3 total
  1. Industry attractiveness is a key determinant of investment potential
  2. Company position is a key determinant of competitive advantage
  3. A company's portfolio should be managed to achieve a balance between cash generation and cash use

Steps

3 steps
  1. Define the Industry
    Define the industry and identify the key factors that determine attractiveness. Determine the company's position in the industry.
    Pro tipUse industry reports and market research to gather data
    WarningEnsure that the industry definition is accurate and relevant
  2. Plot the Portfolio
    Plot the company's portfolio of products or services on the Company Position/Industry Attractiveness Screen. Categorize each product into one of the three categories: invest, hold, or harvest.
    Pro tipUse a clear and concise format to visualize the portfolio
    WarningEnsure that the data is accurate and up-to-date
  3. Determine the Strategic Mandate
    Determine the strategic mandate for each product or service based on its position on the screen. Decide whether to invest, hold, or harvest each product.
    Pro tipConsider the company's overall strategy and resource allocation
    WarningEnsure that the strategic mandate is aligned with the company's goals and objectives

Checklist

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Examples

1 cases
General Electric's Company Position/Industry Attractiveness Screen

General Electric used the Company Position/Industry Attractiveness Screen to evaluate its own portfolio of products and services. The company was able to identify areas for investment and divestment, and allocate resources accordingly.

OutcomeGeneral Electric was able to achieve a more balanced portfolio and improve its overall performance

Common mistakes

3 traps
Incorrect Industry Definition
If the industry definition is inaccurate, the entire analysis will be flawed
Insufficient Data
If the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the analysis will be unreliable
Failure to Consider External Factors
If external factors such as market trends and competitor activity are not considered, the analysis will be incomplete

Origin story

How this framework came to be

The Company Position/Industry Attractiveness Screen was developed by General Electric in the 1970s. It was designed to help businesses evaluate their portfolios and make strategic decisions about resource allocation.

Source

Traced to primary
Source · BOOK
Competitive Strategy
Michael E. Porter · 1980
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