The Industry Analysis
The Industry Analysis
The Industry Analysis
Fragmented industry
2.
Emerging industry
3.
Mature industry
4.
Declining industry
5.
Global industry.
One way in which to compare a particular business with the average of all
participants in the industry is through the use of ratio analysis and comparisons.
Ratios are calculated by dividing one measurable business factor by another, total
sales divided by number of employees, for example. Many of these ratios may be
calculated for an entire industry with data available from many reports and papers
published by the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Labor.
By comparing a particular ratio for one company with that of the industry as a
whole, a business owner can learn much about where her business stands in
comparison with the industry average. For example, a small nursing home business
can compare its "payroll per employee" ratio with the average for all residential
care operators in the U.S. in order to determine if it is within a competitive range. If
her business's "payroll per employee" figure is higher than the industry average,
she may wish to investigate further. Checking the "employees per establishment"
ratio would be a logical place to look next. If this ratio is lower than the industry
average it may justifying the higher per-employee payroll figure. This sort of
comparative analysis is one important way in which to assess how one's business
compares with all others involved in the same line of work. There are various
sources for the industry average ratios, among them is the industry analysis series
published by Thomson Gale as the USA series.
Another premier model for analyzing the structure of industries was developed by
Michael E. Porter in his classic 1980 book Competitive Strategy: Techniques for
Analyzing Industries and Competitors. Porter's model shows that rivalry among
firms in industry depends upon five forces: 1) the potential for new competitors to
enter the market; 2) the bargaining power of buyers; 3) the bargaining power of
suppliers; 4) the availability of substitute goods; and 5) the competitors and nature
of competition. These factors are outlined below.
Supplier Power
Threat of Substitutes
Buyer Power
Degree of Rivalry