Question

Opportunities analysis seems to suggest that strategic opportunities are available in almost any industry including declining ones. If that is true, is it fair to say that there is really no such thing as an unattractive industry?

Answer 1

It is subjective to consider an industry to be attractive or unattractive. There could be various matters that makes an Analyst consider an industry to be unattractive. But then, there are certain other Opportunists as well, who see opportunity in reviving a dead or slow-down industry. These Opportunists such as Vulture capitalists, are visionary of sorts. They have ideas that could seek help from the unattractive industry as well to form concrete action plans. In this regard, even from the most unattractive industries, the Opportunity analyst, would critically examine any scope of availing advantage from the same, thereby making the industry gradually attractive.

However, it is to be noted that, a lot of efforts are diverted into reviving such an unattractive industry, in order to attract the target audiences back to itself. Hence, it would be fair to say that there is really no such thing as an unattractive industry, provided such industry has at least some ‘dormant potentials’ to grow or transform in the days ahead.

There could also be examples of industries that have become obsolete owing to their old and traditional production methods that are no longer valuable now. If such industries have no scope to improve or change, then it shall be thence fair to say that it is an unattractive industry.