In: Economics
Describe and discuss Ansoff's Matrix growth strategy!
This model is essential for strategic marketing planning where it can be applied to look at opportunities to grow revenue for a business through developing new products and services or "tapping into" new markets. So it's sometimes known as the ‘Product-Market Matrix’ instead of the ‘Ansoff Matrix’. This focus on growth means that it's one of the most widely used marketing models. It is used to evaluate opportunities for companies to increase their sales through showing alternative combinations for new markets
The four strategies of the Ansoff Matrix are:
The Ansoff Matrix: Market Penetration
In a market penetration strategy, the firm uses its products in the existing market. In other words, a firm is aiming to increase its market share with a market penetration strategy.
The market penetration strategy can be done in a number of ways:
For example, telecommunication companies all cater to the same market and employ a market penetration strategy by offering introductory prices and increasing their promotion and distribution efforts.
The Ansoff Matrix: Product Development
In a product development strategy, the firm develops a new product to cater to the existing market. The move typically involves extensive research and development and expansion of the product range. The product strategy development strategy is employed when firms have a strong understanding of their current market and are able to provide innovative solutions to meet the needs of the existing market.
The product development strategy can be done in a number of ways:
For example, automotive companies are creating electric cars to meet the changing needs of their existing market. Current market consumers in the automobile market are becoming more environmentally conscious.
The Ansoff Matrix: Market Development
In a market development strategy, the firm enters a new market with their existing product(s). In this context, expanding into new markets may mean expanding into new geographies, customer segments, regions, etc. The market development strategy is most successful if (1) the firm owns proprietary technology that it can leverage into new markets, (2) consumers in the new market are profitable (i.e., they possess disposable income), and (3) consumer behavior in the new markets does not deviate too far from the existing markets.
The market development strategy can be done in a number of ways:
For example, sporting companies such as Nike and Adidas recently entered the Chinese market for expansion. The two firms are offering the same products to a new demographic.
The Ansoff Matrix: Diversification
In a market development strategy, the firm enters a new market with a new product. Although such a strategy is the riskiest as market and product development is required, the risk can be mitigated through related diversification.
There are two types of diversification a firm can employ:
1. Related diversification: There are potential synergies to be realized between the existing business and the new product/market.
For example, a leather shoe producer that starts a line of leather wallets or accessories is pursuing a related diversification strategy.
2. Unrelated diversification: There are no potential synergies to be realized between the existing business and the new product/market.
For example, a leather shoe producer that starts manufacturing phones is pursuing an unrelated diversification strategy.