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7 Powers of Business Strategy

The Foundations of Business Strategy by Hamilton Helmer

www.strategypunk.com

7

Powers

by Hamilton Helmer

Barrier (to Challenger)

Unwilling to Challenge

Unable to Challenge

plus uncertainty

Collateral

Damage

Share Gain

Cost / Benefit

Hysteresis

Fiat

Input

Scale

Economics

Cornered

Resource

Scale of Prodnc/ Distn

Prodnc/Distn

Approach

Counter-

Positioning

Process

Power

Superior

Deliverables

Switching

Costs

Affective

Valence

Branding

Uncertainty

Benefits from

Other Users

Network

Economics

Origination

Takeoff

Stability

Source: Hamilton Helmer Foundations of Business by Hamilton Helmer

Benefit (to Power Holder)

∆ Value ( => P )

∆ Cost

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Power Progression

The Foundations of Business Strategy by Hamilton Helmer

www.strategypunk.com

Source: Hamilton Helmer Foundations of Business by Hamilton Helmer

Origination

Takeoff

Stability

Business Size ($)

Cornered Resource

Counter Positioning

Network Economics

Scale Economics

Switching Costs

Branding

Process Power

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Source: Hamilton Helmer Foundations of Business by Hamilton Helmer

Helmer’s 7 Powers

The per-unit cost decreases as production volume increases.

Scale Economics

1

The value of the service is enhanced as new customers join the network/service.

Network Economies

2

A new or superior business model.

Counter Positioning

3

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Source: Hamilton Helmer Foundations of Business by Hamilton Helmer

Helmer’s 7 Powers

It is expensive for customers to switch to an alternate product/service.

Switching Costs

4

Value of the brand (if it allows pricing power).

Branding

5

Better access to resources (talents, suppliers, etc)

Cornered Resource

6

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Source: Hamilton Helmer Foundations of Business by Hamilton Helmer

Helmer’s 7 Powers

Better internal processes that enable lower costs and/or a superior solution.

Process Power

7