Competitive forces Porter refers to the framework developed by renowned Harvard Business School professor, Michael E. Porter, to analyze and understand the competitive landscape of an industry. This framework identifies five key forces that shape the intensity of competition within an industry, including the threat of new entrants, bargaining power of suppliers and buyers, threat of substitute products or services, and the rivalry among existing competitors. By examining these forces, businesses can gain valuable insights into their industry’s competitive dynamics and develop effective strategies to gain a competitive advantage.