BCG (Boston Consulting Group) Matrix
Provides a framework for senior
management in allocating resources across business units in a diversified firm by
Allows one to compare many business units at
a glance Balancing cash flows among business units, and Balancing stages in the product life-cycle (PLC)
BCG Product Portfolio Matrix Dimensions
The horizontal axis is the Relative Market Share Vertical line is usually set as 1.0 Relative Market Share An SBU to the left of this line means it is the
BCG Matrix (contd)
market leader in the industry or segment in which it operates Conversely, an SBU to the right of this line means it is not the leader The vertical axis is the growth rate
Matrix Quadrants
Relative Market Share High Low High Product Sales Growth Rate Low
Strategic Perspectives of Products in Different Quadrants
Four different strategic perspectives Investment Earnings Cash-flow, and Strategy Implications
Question Marks
(Problem Children)
Investmentheavy initial capacity expenditures and high R&D costs Earningsnegative to low Cash-flownegative (net cash user) Strategy Implications
share. If not, redefine the business or withdraw
If possible to dominate segment, go after
Stars
Investmentcontinue to invest for
capacity expansion EarningsLow to high earnings Cash-flowNegative (net cash user) Strategy Implications
at the expense of short-term earnings
Continue to increase market shareeven
Cows
InvestmentCapacity maintenance EarningsHigh Cash-flowPositive (net cash
contributor) Strategy Implications
Maintain market share and cost leadership
until further investment becomes marginal
Dogs
Investment Gradually reduce capacity EarningsHigh to low Cash-flow Strategy Implications
cash flow
Positive (net cash contributor) if
deliberately reducing capacity
Plan an orderly withdrawal to maximize
BCG Matrix (Three Paths to Success)
Continuously generate cash cows and use
the cash throw-up by the cash cows to invest in the question marks that are not self-sustaining Stars need a lot of reinvestments and as the market matures, stars will degenerate into cash cows and the process will be repeated. As for dogs, segment the markets and nurse the dogs to health or manage for cash
Three Paths to Success (contd)
Relative Market Share High Low High Market Growth Rate Low
BCG Matrix (Three Paths to Failure)
Over invest in cash cows and under
invest in question marks
cash flow
Trade further opportunities for present Allow competitors to gain share in a high
growth market
Under invest in the stars
Over milked the cash cows
Three Paths to Failure (contd)
Relative Market Share High Low High Market Growth Rate Low