The 3 Cs Customer, Company, Competition

This is a basic framework but is very useful. It is especially applicable to business strategy and new market opportunity questions.

Customer
Economic value to the customer: Individual Who is the customer? Perceptions Loyalty Volume Switching Costs Profitability of customer Preference Purchase Behavoir Usage Market: Size Growth Segmentation Shares Maturity Trends Product: Price Differentiation Life Cycle Technology Substitutes

Company:

Competition:

Economics: Costs Profitability Capacity to develop product Capacity to produce product Break-even analysis Experience curve Financials Channels Organization/Structure Intangibles Fit Strategy and vision Strengths/weaknesses Culture Resources Organizational Structure Brand equity Core competencies

Industry analysis (5 forces): Size, # of competitors, market shares Competitors responses Current strategy Strategic value of product and commitment to product Corporate goals Capabilities Economies of scale/scope Cost structure Experience curve Resources: financial, channels, organization, intangibles (brand loyalty, culture) Relative product positioning Substitutes Expected response to competitive moves