Competition Demystified

by Bruce Greenwald
Competition Demystified cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Business and Economics
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Paperback • £21.99
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  • ID: 2180
  • Added: 2025-10-12
  • Updated: 2025-10-12
  • ISBN: 9781101218433
  • Publisher: Penguin
  • Published: 2005-08-18
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

Bruce Greenwald, a renowned business professor, offers a fresh and straightforward method to strategy that cuts through the complexity often associated with the subject. Based on his popular course at Columbia Business School, Greenwald and coauthor Judd Kahn provide an easy-to-follow guide to analyzing your industry's competitive landscape and crafting a strategy tailored to your unique position. /n/n Over the past two decades, traditional strategy approaches have become overly complicated, often losing sight of the fundamental question: Are there barriers to entry that allow your firm to do things others cannot? This book demystifies competition by focusing on the essential elements that drive success.

Reviews
phoenixassetmanagement.com · Unknown · 2025-10-17
insightful 4.50

Competition Demystified offers a simplified approach to business strategy, focusing on competitive advantages and barriers to entry. The book is praised for its clear explanations and practical case studies, making complex theories accessible. Readers appreciate its straightforward writing and practical applications, though some find theoretical sections dry.

Competition Demystified by Bruce C. Greenwald and Judd Kahn presents a simplified approach to business strategy, emphasizing the importance of understanding competitive advantages and barriers to entry. The book is structured with clear theoretical explanations followed by relevant case studies, making it easy to grasp and apply the concepts. Readers appreciate the straightforward writing style and the practical insights provided. The case studies are particularly praised for their depth and relevance, helping to drive home the points made in the theoretical sections. However, some readers find the theoretical explanations dry and less engaging. Despite this, the book is highly recommended for both investors and managers, as it offers valuable frameworks for evaluating and managing competitive advantages. The practical applications of the book's insights are noted by several readers, who have found themselves revisiting the book for additional insights.

Quick quotes

    The title aptly describes what this book is about: formulating a business strategy, based on the presence or absence of competitive advantages (barriers of entry into an industry - 'moat' in the words of Warren Buffett).

    The book is very well written and easy to grasp. Despite no background in business, I was able to follow everything.

    Although I did think many of the insights were not hugely surprising for those familiar with formulating business and expansion strategies, I appreciated how clearly and cleanly Greenwald bucketed the factors that give rise to strong barriers to entry in a market

alphaarchitect.com · Unknown · 2015-05-12
insightful 4.50

The book provides a clear and practical approach to business strategy, making complex concepts accessible. It offers valuable insights into competitive dynamics and strategic decision-making.

Competition Demystified stands out for its straightforward and practical approach to business strategy. The book breaks down complex concepts into understandable terms, making it accessible to a wide audience. It delves into the nuances of competitive dynamics and offers actionable insights for strategic decision-making. The author's expertise shines through, providing readers with a comprehensive guide to navigating competitive landscapes. While some might find the examples a bit dated, the core principles remain highly relevant and useful.

Quick quotes

    The book's approach is refreshingly simple and practical

    It offers valuable insights into competitive dynamics

    The author's expertise shines through, providing a comprehensive guide to navigating competitive landscapes

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2005-01-01
excellent 4.50

Competition Demystified offers a simplified approach to business strategy, focusing on barriers to entry as the key factor in competitive advantage. The book is praised for its clear explanations and practical case studies, making it valuable for both investors and managers.

Competition Demystified presents a straightforward and updated framework for business strategy, building on Michael Porter's theories but simplifying them. The book emphasizes the importance of barriers to entry in determining competitive advantages and provides practical insights into managing these advantages. It is well-structured, with each chapter including theoretical concepts followed by relevant case studies. The clear explanations and numerous examples make it accessible even to those without a business background. The book is particularly useful for investors and managers looking to understand and apply strategic positioning in real-world scenarios.

Quick quotes

    The title aptly describes what this book is about: formulating a business strategy, based on the presence or absence of competitive advantages (barriers of entry into an industry - "moat" in the words of Warren Buffett).

    The book is very well written and easy to grasp. Despite no background in business, I was able to follow everything.

    Well worth reading for investors, as well as managers.

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2005-01-01
excellent 4.50

Competition Demystified offers a simplified approach to business strategy, focusing on barriers to entry as the key to understanding competitive advantages. The book provides a systematic process for competitive analysis, supported by numerous case studies that illustrate different firms' strategies and outcomes.

Competition Demystified by Bruce Greenwald and Judd Kahn presents a refreshing and straightforward approach to business strategy, emphasizing the importance of barriers to entry in understanding competitive advantages. The authors argue that Porter’s 5 forces are too complex and that focusing on barriers to entry simplifies the analysis. They provide a systematic process for competitive analysis, which involves identifying the market, determining the existence of competitive advantages, and analyzing the nature of competition. The book includes numerous case studies, such as Apple, Wal-Mart, and Coors, to illustrate how different firms have leveraged or lost competitive advantages. The authors also discuss game theory dynamics, including the Prisoner’s Dilemma, to explain competitive interactions. Overall, the book is praised for its clear and practical framework, making it a valuable resource for understanding business strategy.

Quick quotes

    The book’s main strength is that it provides a straightforward approach to thinking about strategy, which is refreshing in a world filled with business authors who sometimes seem bent on making things more complicated.

    Having spent a good deal of time over the past few years thinking about economic moats, I also really enjoyed how the authors got into the specifics of sustainable competitive advantage.

    The authors present their simplified view of strategy, with its focus on understanding barriers to entry, and then conduct competitive analysis by following a systematic process:

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