What technique displays the different market or competitive positions rival firms occupy in the industry?

• A. Strategic group mapping
• B. Business portfolio analysis
• C. Competitive benchmarking
• D. Market segmentation

Answer: (A)

Strategic group mapping shows how firms sit relative to one another in the competitive landscape by plotting rivals on key strategic dimensions, such as price versus quality or breadth of product lines and geographic reach. This technique creates clusters of firms that pursue similar strategies, making it easy to see which competitors are direct rivals and where there are mobility barriers or gaps that could signal opportunities. By visualizing these positions, you can understand the different market niches within the industry and how firms differentiate themselves.

Other options don’t fit this purpose. Competitive benchmarking focuses on comparing performance and processes to best-in-class firms rather than depicting market positions. Market segmentation targets customer groups rather than rival firms. Business portfolio analysis looks at a single firm's mix of businesses and their performance, not how competitors are positioned relative to each other in the industry.