Acceptance of the Porter (1980) five-forces analytic framework is prevalent in the world of for-profit organizations. The framework?s value is rooted in the forces of industry competition bathed in the traditional dynamics of economics. It is the structural frame of competitive forces that collectively determines the profitability and hence the attractiveness of an industry. In terms of this framework the key to strategy is defending against the five forces. Porter says, "An effective competitive strategy takes offensive or defensive action in order to create a defendable position against the five competitive forces."

With reservation on the applicability of private sector concepts to nonprofit organizations, Goold (1997) has evaluated its relevance and potential usefulness of the framework in the nonprofit arena. He concludes that the “meaning and relevance of the concept is therefore dubious. . . the industry attractiveness concept seems not to transfer well into the not-for-profit environment.” In possible support to Goold?s view is that of Stone, Bigelow and Crittenden (1999) who argue that nonprofit goals and outcomes have a “noneconomic and nonmarket quality.” From their review of the empirical research in nonprofit strategy between 1979 and 1999 they conclude that “some assumptions underlying formal planning do not match characteristics of many nonprofits and their environments.” In apparent implicit opposition to Goold?s view is that of Miller (2002). Miller blends sociology of religion witheconomic theories of competition when studying church organizations. He views rivalry among religious organizations as sometimes intense. Using the resource-based view of the organization, religious organizations are seen as competing for scarce resources. One of the weaknesses of the research in sociology and economics of religion has been that this research does not “acknowledge the industry analytical frameworks and theories of competitive interaction from strategic management and industrial organization economics.”