The Five Forces Plus model: competitiveness in the digital, algorithmic, and geopolitical era

Purpose This paper reassesses the contemporary relevance of Porter's Five Forces in an environment shaped by digital platforms, data concentration, algorithmic decision-making, and geopolitical tension. It introduces the Five Forces Plus model, an extended framework to reflect the structural pressures shaping competition in the 2020s. Design/methodology/approach A conceptual and integrative approach is used. The paper revisits the original assumptions behind the Five Forces, evaluates their fit with current competitive dynamics, and synthesises insights from the resource-based view, the Delta Model, and Blue Ocean Strategy. This comparison provides the basis for extending the framework. Findings The analysis indicates that Porter's original logic still offers value, but no longer captures enough of the structural forces influencing competition. Data and algorithmic control, platform governance, and regulatory or geopolitical pressure now interact with Porter's Five Forces. These dynamics accelerate advantage decay, blur industry boundaries, and reshape how businesses position themselves. Originality/value This paper proposes a modernised extension of Porter's model. The Five Forces Plus framework integrates digital, algorithmic, and political forces that now shape industry structure with the same significance as the original five. It offers a clearer foundation for analysing competition in data-driven, platform-centric markets.