STRATEGYMonths to result

Experience Curve Framework

Cost reduction through experience

Problem it solves

unclear strategic direction

Best for

Firms seeking to reduce costs and improve efficiency

Not ideal for

Firms with limited resources or those that are not able to invest in experience curve improvements

Overview

Why this framework exists

The Experience Curve Framework describes how firms can reduce costs and improve efficiency by accumulating experience and improving their operations. The framework suggests that as firms produce more units, they can reduce their costs per unit and improve their efficiency.

Core principles

3 total
  1. The experience curve is a graphical representation of the relationship between experience and cost reduction.
  2. Firms can reduce costs and improve efficiency by accumulating experience and improving their operations.
  3. The experience curve is not a guarantee of success and firms must continually invest in experience curve improvements to maintain their competitive advantage.

Steps

2 steps
  1. Accumulate experience
    Firms can accumulate experience by producing more units and improving their operations.
    Pro tipConsider investing in process improvements and employee training to accelerate experience curve improvements.
    WarningFailing to continually invest in experience curve improvements can lead to stagnation and reduced competitiveness.
  2. Improve operations
    Firms can improve their operations by investing in process improvements and employee training.
    Pro tipConsider benchmarking against industry leaders to identify areas for improvement.
    WarningFailing to improve operations can lead to reduced efficiency and increased costs.

Checklist

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Examples

1 cases
Hewlett-Packard's experience curve improvements

Hewlett-Packard invested in experience curve improvements and was able to reduce its costs and improve its efficiency, leading to increased competitiveness and market share.

OutcomeHewlett-Packard's experience curve improvements led to increased profitability and market share.

Common mistakes

2 traps
Failing to continually invest in experience curve improvements
The experience curve is not a guarantee of success and firms must continually invest in experience curve improvements to maintain their competitive advantage.
Not benchmarking against industry leaders
Failing to benchmark against industry leaders can lead to reduced efficiency and increased costs. Firms should consider benchmarking to identify areas for improvement.

Origin story

How this framework came to be

The concept of the experience curve was developed by the Boston Consulting Group as a way to understand the relationship between experience and cost reduction.

Source

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

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