Mobility Barriers Framework
Understanding barriers to strategic change
The Mobility Barriers Framework is a tool used to understand the barriers that prevent firms from changing their strategic position. This framework helps to identify the factors that make it difficult for firms to change their strategy, such as economies of scale, product differentiation, and capital requirements.
- Mobility barriers are factors that make it difficult for firms to change their strategic position
- Mobility barriers can be created by firm-specific assets and capabilities
- Mobility barriers can be affected by industry trends and technological changes
- Identify Mobility BarriersIdentify the mobility barriers that prevent firms from changing their strategic position. This involves analyzing the factors that make it difficult for firms to change their strategy, such as economies of scale, product differentiation, and capital requirements.Pro tipUse a combination of qualitative and quantitative data to identify mobility barriersWarningBe careful not to oversimplify the complexity of mobility barriers
- Assess Height and Composition of Mobility BarriersAssess the height and composition of mobility barriers protecting each strategic group. This involves analyzing the factors that affect the mobility barriers, such as firm-specific assets and capabilities, industry trends, and technological changes.Pro tipConsider the role of firm-specific assets and capabilities in creating mobility barriersWarningBe aware that mobility barriers can change over time due to changes in the industry or firm-specific factors
IBM is a firm that has created significant mobility barriers through its investments in research and development, marketing, and distribution. These barriers make it difficult for other firms to compete with IBM in the computer industry.
The Mobility Barriers Framework was developed by Michael E. Porter as a way to analyze the barriers that prevent firms from changing their strategic position. Porter recognized that firms often face significant barriers to changing their strategy, and that these barriers can affect their competitive position.