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Method session2-4 h workshop, plus 2-3 days data research beforehandWorkshop or asyncFive Forces Analysis

Session: Porter Five Forces

The plan translates the method into a concrete facilitated work block. Your inputs flow directly into the session brief and work artifact.

Derived automatically

Method session with 2-8. The plan uses the existing method logic and the runsheet.

Runsheet
Participation logic
Team round, shared work and alignment

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome logic
Finish artifact

The session works directly toward Five Forces Analysis. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

  1. 1

    Phase 1: Sharpen the market

    20 min

    Read the market definition and check boundaries: which segments are in, which are out. Define the time window, for example a 3-year horizon. Name substitute categories explicitly. Hint: If the definition is too broad (for example the entire SaaS market), all forces produce medium values without sharpness. Prefer a sharp segment, such as HR tech in DACH for 100-500 employee companies.

    FacilitatorFive Forces Analysis
  2. 2

    Phase 2: Existing rivalry

    30 min

    Review competitor list: count, market share distribution (HHI), growth rate, degree of differentiation, exit barriers. Document a 1-5 rating with rationale. Hint: Many equally strong players in a stagnant market means 5 (strong). Few players in a growing market with differentiation is more likely 2-3.

    FacilitatorCompetitive Risks
  3. 3

    Phase 3: Customer and supplier bargaining power

    30 min

    For each side, check concentration (top-3 share), switching costs, degree of standardization, threat of backward or forward integration. Rate both forces separately from 1-5. Hint: If one customer represents more than 20% of revenue, customer power is at least 4. In a platform business with many small customers, it is more likely 2.

    FacilitatorStrategic Options
  4. 4

    Phase 4: Market entry and substitutes

    30 min

    List entry barriers (capital, regulation, economies of scale, network effects, brand strength). Identify substitutes, including indirect ones. Rate both forces separately from 1-5. Hint: Indirect substitutes are often forgotten. Ask: what alternative solves the customer's job, even if the technology is completely different?

    FacilitatorFive Forces Analysis
  5. 5

    Phase 5: Synthesis and strategic implication

    30 min

    Draw the overall picture: which force has the highest value, which trends shift it. Derive three strategic implications, for example differentiation, supplier diversification, substitute monitoring. Hint: Five Forces describes structure, not action. Implications must become concrete per force, otherwise the model remains a picture without consequence.

    OwnerCompetitive Risks
  6. 6

    Publish artifact

    10 min

    Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients.

    OwnerFive Forces Analysis
Usable artifact

Session Brief

For invitations, boards, tickets, PR descriptions, or workshop notes.

session-brief.md

Session Brief: Porter Five Forces

Goal

Artifact: Five Forces Analysis

Working Question

How structurally attractive is this market, and which force most strongly limits long-term profitability?

Context

Market definition; list of top 10 competitors with revenue; supplier concentration index; share of largest customers in revenue; known regulatory barriers; substitute categories.

Setup

  • Format: Method session
  • Duration: 2-4 h workshop, plus 2-3 days data research beforehand
  • Mode: Workshop or async
  • Participants: One facilitator with strategy background; two to five participants from strategy, sales, procurement and product; one researcher who supplies data for open questions during the session.
  • Owner: One facilitator with strategy background
  • Participation mode: Team round, shared work and alignment
  • Outcome logic: Finish artifact

Participation Logic

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome Logic

The session works directly toward Five Forces Analysis. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

Input

Five Forces diagram as template (central rivalry plus four surrounding forces); market data from industry reports (Statista, Gartner, IBISWorld); competitor list with revenue and market share; supplier and customer concentration data.

Preparation

Draw the diagram with five boxes or prepare it in Miro. Use one rating scale per force (1-5: weak to strong) and three rationale slots. Place data sources as stickies next to it. Rule: every rating needs at least one data-backed rationale.

Agenda

  1. Phase 1: Sharpen the market (20 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Read the market definition and check boundaries: which segments are in, which are out. Define the time window, for example a 3-year horizon. Name substitute categories explicitly. Hint: If the definition is too broad (for example the entire SaaS market), all forces produce medium values without sharpness. Prefer a sharp segment, such as HR tech in DACH for 100-500 employee companies. Output: Five Forces Analysis

  2. Phase 2: Existing rivalry (30 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Review competitor list: count, market share distribution (HHI), growth rate, degree of differentiation, exit barriers. Document a 1-5 rating with rationale. Hint: Many equally strong players in a stagnant market means 5 (strong). Few players in a growing market with differentiation is more likely 2-3. Output: Competitive Risks

  3. Phase 3: Customer and supplier bargaining power (30 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: For each side, check concentration (top-3 share), switching costs, degree of standardization, threat of backward or forward integration. Rate both forces separately from 1-5. Hint: If one customer represents more than 20% of revenue, customer power is at least 4. In a platform business with many small customers, it is more likely 2. Output: Strategic Options

  4. Phase 4: Market entry and substitutes (30 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: List entry barriers (capital, regulation, economies of scale, network effects, brand strength). Identify substitutes, including indirect ones. Rate both forces separately from 1-5. Hint: Indirect substitutes are often forgotten. Ask: what alternative solves the customer's job, even if the technology is completely different? Output: Five Forces Analysis

  5. Phase 5: Synthesis and strategic implication (30 min) Owner: Owner Action: Draw the overall picture: which force has the highest value, which trends shift it. Derive three strategic implications, for example differentiation, supplier diversification, substitute monitoring. Hint: Five Forces describes structure, not action. Implications must become concrete per force, otherwise the model remains a picture without consequence. Output: Competitive Risks

  6. Publish artifact (10 min) Owner: Owner Action: Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients. Output: Five Forces Analysis

Closeout

  • Update result artifact: Five Forces Analysis
  • Define location, version, and review recipients.
  • Define owner, next step, and review date.
Usable artifact

Work artifact

Pre-filled starting point based on the matching template.

work-artifact.md

Five Forces Analysis: Porter Five Forces

Working Question

How structurally attractive is this market, and which force most strongly limits long-term profitability?

Context

Market definition; list of top 10 competitors with revenue; supplier concentration index; share of largest customers in revenue; known regulatory barriers; substitute categories.

Participants

  • Owner: One facilitator with strategy background
  • Participants: One facilitator with strategy background; two to five participants from strategy, sales, procurement and product; one researcher who supplies data for open questions during the session.

Input

Five Forces diagram as template (central rivalry plus four surrounding forces); market data from industry reports (Statista, Gartner, IBISWorld); competitor list with revenue and market share; supplier and customer concentration data.

Template

Porter Five Forces Working Template

Goal

Evaluates industry attractiveness through rivalry, suppliers, buyers, substitutes, and new entrants.

Context

When and for what do we use this method?

Input

Which data, observations, decisions, or materials are available?

Execution

Short notes along the runsheet.

Output artifacts

  • Five Forces Analysis:
  • Competitive Risks:
  • Strategic Options:

Assumptions and open questions

  • ...

Decision / Next step

Owner, date, and success signal.

Completion Check

  • Five Forces Analysis is complete enough for review:
  • Location:
  • Version / status:
  • Review by:
  • Next step:

Next Step

  • Review result
  • Mark open questions
  • Schedule review or decision
Template base

Porter Five Forces Working Template

View templateCompact working template for Porter Five Forces with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.
markdown

porter-five-forces-working-template.md

Compact working template for Porter Five Forces with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.

Porter Five Forces Working Template

Goal

Evaluates industry attractiveness through rivalry, suppliers, buyers, substitutes, and new entrants.

Context

When and for what do we use this method?

Input

Which data, observations, decisions, or materials are available?

Execution

Short notes along the runsheet.

Output artifacts

  • Five Forces Analysis:
  • Competitive Risks:
  • Strategic Options:

Assumptions and open questions

  • ...

Decision / Next step

Owner, date, and success signal.

Ready to use when
  • Working question, owner, and target artifact are visible.
  • The result fits Five Forces Analysis.
  • Include date and market definition in the header for every analysis. Reassess annually or after major market changes as a new version, do not overwrite. Archive the previous version with date.
  • Open questions are noted as follow-ups.
  • The next review or decision point is scheduled.
ProfileRunsheet