How we can use BCG matrix for effective strategic formulation explain your answer?

A business planning tool used to evaluate the strategic position of a firm's’ brand portfolio

What is the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Matrix?

The Boston Consulting Group Matrix (BCG Matrix), also referred to as the product portfolio matrix, is a business planning tool used to evaluate the strategic position of a firm’s brand portfolio. The BCG Matrix is one of the most popular portfolio analysis methods. It classifies a firm’s product and/or services into a two-by-two matrix. Each quadrant is classified as low or high performance, depending on the relative market share and market growth rate. Learn more about strategy in CFI’s Business Strategy Course.

How we can use BCG matrix for effective strategic formulation explain your answer?

Understanding the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Matrix

The horizontal axis of the BCG Matrix represents the amount of market share of a product and its strength in the particular market. By using relative market share, it helps measure a company’s competitiveness.

The vertical axis of the BCG Matrix represents the growth rate of a product and its potential to grow in a particular market.

In addition, there are four quadrants in the BCG Matrix:

  1. Question marks: Products with high market growth but a low market share.
  2. Stars: Products with high market growth and a high market share.
  3. Dogs: Products with low market growth and a low market share.
  4. Cash cows: Products with low market growth but a high market share.

The assumption in the matrix is that an increase in relative market share will result in increased cash flow. A firm benefits from utilizing economies of scale and gains a cost advantage relative to competitors. The market growth rate varies from industry to industry but usually shows a cut-off point of 10% – growth rates higher than 10% are considered high, while growth rates lower than 10% are considered low.

Learn more about strategy in CFI’s Business Strategy Course.

The BCG Matrix: Question Marks

Products in the question marks quadrant are in a market that is growing quickly but where the product(s) have a low market share. Question marks are the most managerially intensive products and require extensive investment and resources to increase their market share. Investments in question marks are typically funded by cash flows from the cash cow quadrant.

In the best-case scenario, a firm would ideally want to turn question marks into stars (as indicated by A). If question marks do not succeed in becoming a market leader, they end up becoming dogs when market growth declines.

The BCG Matrix: Dogs

Products in the dogs quadrant are in a market that is growing slowly and where the product(s) have a low market share. Products in the dogs quadrant are typically able to sustain themselves and provide cash flows, but the products will never reach the stars quadrant. Firms typically phase out products in the dogs quadrant (as indicated by B) unless the products are complementary to existing products or are used for a competitive purpose.

The BCG Matrix: Stars

Products in the star quadrant are in a market that is growing quickly and one where the product(s) have a high market share. Products in the stars quadrant are market-leading products and require significant investment to retain their market position, boost growth, and maintain a competitive advantage.

Stars consume a significant amount of cash but also generate large cash flows. As the market matures and the products remain successful, stars will migrate to become cash cows. Stars are a company’s prized possession and are top-of-mind in a firm’s product portfolio.

The BCG Matrix: Cash Cows

Products in the cash cows quadrant are in a market that is growing slowly and where the product(s) have a high market share. Products in the cash cows quadrant are thought of as products that are leaders in the marketplace. The products already have a significant amount of investments in them and do not require significant further investments to maintain their position.

Cash flows generated by cash cows are high and are generally used to finance stars and question marks. Products in the cash cows quadrant are “milked” and firms invest as little cash as possible while reaping the profits generated from the products.

More Resources

Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to the BCG Matrix. To keep learning and advancing your career, the additional CFI resources below will be useful:

  • Aggregate Supply and Demand
  • Market Positioning
  • Network Effect
  • Substitute Products

How we can use BCG matrix for effective strategic formulation?

A BCG matrix is a model used to analyze a business's products to aid with long-term strategic planning. The matrix helps companies identify new growth opportunities and decide how they should invest for the future. Most companies offer a wide variety of products, but some deliver greater returns than others.

What is BCG matrix and how is it used in strategic management explain with relevant examples from industry?

BCG matrix is a framework created by Boston Consulting Group to evaluate the strategic position of the business brand portfolio and its potential. It classifies business portfolio into four categories based on industry attractiveness (growth rate of that industry) and competitive position (relative market share).

What is BCG product portfolio matrix How does it help in marketing strategy?

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) growth-share matrix is a planning tool that uses graphical representations of a company's products and services in an effort to help the company decide what it should keep, sell, or invest more in.

What is the importance of BCG matrix in an Organisational effectiveness?

The Boston Consulting group's product portfolio matrix (BCG matrix) is designed to help with long-term strategic planning, to help a business consider growth opportunities by reviewing its portfolio of products to decide where to invest, to discontinue, or develop products. It's also known as the Growth/Share Matrix.