Porter’s Five Forces Model analyzescompetitive forces—bargaining power of customers and suppliers, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and rivalry among existing competitors—that influence industry profitability. Thepace of technological advance, while influential, is considered part of the broader macro-environment and is not one of the five forces. The IASP SPP curriculum distinguishes between competitive forces and external environmental factors, emphasizing Porter’s model as a tool for competitive analysis.【IASP SPP Study Guide - Competitive Forces】【Porter, Competitive Strategy】