2. Identify the strategies that a particular firm pursues to gain competitive advantage. Are its products designed to meet the needs of specific market segments, such as ethnic or health foods, or are they intended for a broader consumer market, such as cafeterias and family restaurants? Has the firm integrated backward into the growing or manufacturing of raw materials for its products, such as a steel company that owns iron mines? Has the firm integrated forward into retailing to final consumers, such as an athletic footwear manufacturer that operates retail stores to sell its products? Is the firm diversified across several geographic markets or industries?