Assessing the Primary Activities in the Value Chain

Porter's value chain involves five primary activities: inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, marketing and sales, and service. Support activities are illustrated in a vertical column over all of the primary activities. These are procurement, human resources, technology development, and firm infrastructure.

Step 1: Identify all value chain activities. Step 2: Calculate each value chain activity's cost. Step 3: Look at what your customers perceive as value. Step 4: Look at your competitors' value chains. Step 5: Decide on a competitive advantage.

The primary activities of Michael Porter's value chain are inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, marketing and sales, and service. The goal of the five sets of activities is to create value that exceeds the cost of conducting that activity, therefore generating a higher profit.

Value chain analysis is a strategy tool used to analyze internal firm activities. Its goal is to recognize, which activities are the most valuable (i.e. are the source of cost or differentiation advantage) to the firm and which ones could be improved to provide competitive advantage.

Step 1: Identify all value chain activities. Step 2: Calculate each value chain activity's cost. Step 3: Look at what your customers perceive as value. Step 4: Look at your competitors' value chains. Step 5: Decide on a competitive advantage.

Step 1: Identify all value chain activities. Step 2: Calculate each value chain activity's cost. Step 3: Look at what your customers perceive as value. Step 4: Look at your competitors' value chains. Step 5: Decide on a competitive advantage.

The activities associated with this part of the value chain are providing service to enhance or maintain the value of the product after it has been sold and delivered. Examples: installation, repair, training, parts supply and product adjustment.