A Review of Competitive Strategy Frameworks

Abstract

Competitive strategy frameworks provide systematic approaches for understanding how organizations achieve and sustain competitive advantage in dynamic markets. Over the past several decades, scholars have proposed multiple frameworks—ranging from industry-based and resource-based perspectives to dynamic capabilities and platform-based competition—to explain firm performance and strategic positioning. This review synthesizes classical and contemporary competitive strategy frameworks, including Porter’s Five Forces, Generic Strategies, the Resource-Based View (RBV), Value Chain Analysis, Dynamic Capabilities, Blue Ocean Strategy, and ecosystem-based competition models. Through a comparative analysis, the paper evaluates the strengths, limitations, and contextual relevance of each framework. The discussion highlights managerial implications, integration challenges, and the impact of digital transformation on competitive strategy. The study concludes by identifying future research directions and emphasizing the need for hybrid strategy frameworks in complex business environments.