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Michael Porter Meets the "Strategy By Press Release" Crowd

Has Health Industry Group Purchasing Assn. president Curtis Rooney heard of Michael Porter or his "five forces" scheme for assessing an industry's competitive structure?  Doubtful.

Notice off to the left there, a force titled "Bargaining Power of Suppliers?" (Click on the graphic for a better view.)  Apparently in Rooney's health care, that force only works in one direction.

Instead of seeing Medtronic's canceling of several GPO contracts as a predictable attempt to shift some bargaining power back to device manufacturers, Rooney calls it “nothing short of an attack on America’s hospitals.”

Yeah, that'll help.

Funny, I can't find 'the power of the pulpit" anywhere on Porter's chart.  Those who can compete, do.  Those who can't, issue whiny, self-serving proclamations.

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