Michael Porter vs Roger Martin: The Strategy Choice You Don’t Have to Make

Strategy experts often emphasize the importance of making choices. But what if you could use more than one framework at the same time? In this blog post, we will show you how to combine two influential approaches to strategy: Michael Porter’s five forces model/generic strategies and Roger Martin’s playing to win framework. By doing so, you can create more strategic options, overcome trade-offs, and achieve better results.

The Two Approaches to Strategy

Porter’s approach focuses on analyzing the competitive forces that shape an industry and aims to create a sustainable competitive advantage. Martin’s approach helps managers make strategic choices based on five questions and aims to create a unique value proposition for a firm.

At first glance, these frameworks seem to be incompatible.

·        Porter’s framework tends to be more analytical and prescriptive, while Martin’s framework tends to be more creative and generative.

·        Porter’s framework focuses more on external factors such as industry structure and competition, while Martin’s framework focuses more on internal factors such as capabilities and culture.

·        Porter’s framework assumes that there is one best way to compete in any given industry, while Martin’s framework acknowledges that there may be multiple ways to win depending on the context.

Combining the Frameworks

However, by combining elements from both or using them sequentially, you can create a more robust, flexible and holistic strategy. For example:

1.      Use Porter’s five forces model to analyze industry attractiveness and identify opportunities and threats.

2.      Use Martin’s playing to win framework to define your winning aspiration, choose target segments, and determine your value proposition.

3.      Use Porter’s generic strategies to decide how to achieve cost leadership, differentiation, or focus within your chosen segments.

4.      Use Martin’s playing to win framework again to determine necessary capabilities and management systems to execute your strategy.

Remember, these frameworks are tools, not rules. They are not mutually exclusive but mutually enriching.

So next time you think about strategy development or evaluation, try using both Michael Porter’s five forces model/generic strategies AND Roger Martin’s playing to win framework together. You may be impressed by how much they complement each other.

At Catalyse, our team of experienced consultants brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to each project. We work closely with our clients to develop customized strategies that drive growth and success. If you want to take your business to the next level with a more robust and flexible strategy, contact us anytime. We're here to help.