Glossary/Strategy & Frameworks/Value Chain
Strategy & Frameworks
Value Chain
Michael Porter's 1985 model breaking a firm into primary and support activities to find where it creates value and competitive advantage.
By Brandon Mina·CEO, BrandPilot AI·Updated November 2026
Short answer
The value chain is Michael Porter's 1985 model that breaks a firm into primary activities, such as operations, marketing and service, and support activities, such as technology and procurement. Analyzing each activity shows where the business creates value and cost, helping identify sources of competitive advantage through efficiency or differentiation.