Industry analysis is the systematic study of an industry's structure, dynamics, competitive forces, value chain, regulatory environment, technological trends, and macroeconomic factors. It's used to inform strategic decisions about market entry, positioning, business model, and competitive strategy. The most-used frameworks are Porter's Five Forces (industry structure), PESTLE (macroeconomic factors), and value chain analysis (where value is created and captured). The discipline is more relevant at strategic inflection points (founding, market entry, M&A, major pivots) than as ongoing operational practice. Industry analysis provides the macro context within which business strategy operates.
The standard frameworks:
Po...