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Summary: We need to get back to this
Review: A call to all so-called ebusiness analysts... Value chains! This is how we select services to bring on-line, this is how we differentiate. The Internet now makes Porters visions virtually cost-free! As a profession, we need to reach back to foundation business wisdom and get away from .com lunacy. If Boo had read this, they might still be here today.
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Summary: Dated, but accessible even to non-MBA types
Review: A comprehensive introduction to how you can create advantages in your industry, even if you're not an MBA-type and just an engineer (like me). It'll also give you a useful framework for assessing what your current company and group is doing, what its vulnerabilities are, and how it relates to what the rest of the market is doing so you can make recommendations.The only downside was the dated feel of the examples, which really made it difficult for a younger person to relate to.
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Summary: The Second of Three Parts of a Symphony
Review: A great second act and a reasonable explanation of why some companies succeed and others fail at the macro level. A must read for the detail explanations that any MBA exposed to Dr. Porter's model does not get.
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Summary: The orginal thought that launched a thousand businesses...
Review: Among other concepts, this is the work that introduced the notion of "value chain" -- a concept that helped launch a thousand reengineering initiatives, some of which actually created value! Certainly more recent models associated with business networks and ecosystem metaphors have significantly progressed beyond Porter's basic value chain concept -- nevertheless, the original is worth thoroughly understanding.
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Summary: The Bible of Porter to the rescue
Review: By it for the marketing communications person in over their head. If you are in marketing and have not read Porter then consider yourself not in marketing. There is great wisdom and proven strategies on what to look for in a marketing plan. Without a solid marketing plan you are running against smarter, faster people. Read it, learn from it and go forth to conquer.
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Summary: A master work
Review: Few books define the field where they are. This is one of them. But often these books are great in content but not so much in clarity. This book also beats that. Porter's style is at the same time brilliant and clear, engaging and deep, motivating and enlightening. You will have a hard time trying to put this book down. You will learn the rules many companies live by. But you will also do it for the sheer intellectual pleasure of following a sharp mind in full motion and telling you all with so much clarity. Just don't miss his other two classic books.
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Summary: The Porter Advantage
Review: I am an MBA student and the book, Competitive Advantage, by Michael Porter is one of the best books I have read on the theory of sustaining competitive advantage. The text illustrates the five forces theory and the generic strategies which companies must use as analytical tools in designing the right strategy to maintain supremacy in their field. I recommend this book to anyone interested in gaining fantastic insight into Michael Porter's theories of competition.
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Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I am an MBA student at a Top 10 Business School, and I found it very knowledgeable and insightful. It's definitely written for the intelligent business owner, not patronizing at all. It's definitely NOT, "Competitive Strategy for Dummies". A definite read for any strategy or product executive.
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Summary: The 'mother' of all business strategy books
Review: I just finished a competitive strategy class in my MBA program and this book was referred to often. The most helpful section is the one that breaks down a company's activities and helps create a 'value chain' to figure out how and where an organization creates value. Once this is done, Porter delineates how competitive advantages might be created based on tinkering with value chain activities. The only thing, I felt, was not covered in the book was the 'core competence' concept which is also derived from the value chain but ignored in this particular publication. Nevertheless, this is a 'must have' for all potential strategy consultants.
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Summary: Great book !
Review: I read this book when I was working...and my boss gave me a great challenge that was to figure out how that company would do to create values, reduce cost and as a consequence achieve 10% of the tourism market. Porter has shown many important considerations for those who are chasing strategies to employ for their organizations.
I recommend you this book, because I am sure that it can improve your knowledge.
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