Summit OS®

Six Forces Map™

Map the competitive forcefield of your business and adjust your position to improve your market position and profitability.

What Is the Six Forces Map™?

Six Forces Map™, inspired by Michael Porter’s Five Forces strategic framework, is a guide-led strategy program that teaches you how to analyze the six competitive forces shaping your profitability in your specific business micro-market—not just at an industry-wide level, as taught by Porter.

The Six Competitive Forces

Your Guide will walk your team through each force and whether it is strong or weak for your business:

  1. Customers — Do they dictate terms (pricing, payment terms, private label), or do you hold power through brand and differentiation? 
  2. Substitutes — Are alternatives “good enough” to cap your pricing and profitability?
  3. Suppliers — Are you dominated by hard-to-switch suppliers, or can you shop around and control your costs?
  4. Rivals — Are competitors cutting at your heels, or do you have a dominant position? 
  5. New Entrants — Are barriers to entry low (new competitors can “hang a shingle”), or do you have real defenses?
  6. Government & Regulations — Is regulation a headwind, neutral factor, or can it limit competition in your favor?

What You’ll Walk Away With

  • A completed Six Forces Map™ of your business environment
  • Clear understanding of where profit is being squeezed (and why)
  • A shortlist of strategic positioning moves to improve leverage
  • Potential initiatives to strengthen differentiation and reduce rival pressure

Next Steps

Ready to map your competitive force field and improve your leverage?

Learn More by reading: Strategy OS by Steve Preda

Request a free 60-minute
Summit OS® Overview Session
with a certified Summit OS Guide™.