Pattern: Parallel Workers | Team size: 5 agents
This team rapidly benchmarks Harvey Norman against key competitors across product, price, customer experience, and marketing at the same time. A parallel structure works well because competitive analysis has multiple independent research streams that can be gathered simultaneously and then synthesized.
compettive analysis for harvey norman
Create an agent team to deliver a comprehensive competitive analysis for Harvey Norman, focused primarily on Australia and New Zealand retail markets, benchmarking Harvey Norman against major direct and indirect competitors across competitors, pricing/promotions, product/category range, customer experience, and strategic implications. Project name: harvey_norman_competitive_analysis Create all outputs under this folder only: outputs/agent_teams_demo/harvey_norman_competitive_analysis/ Use the “Retail Rival Radar” team design with a Parallel Workers pattern. Run Agents 1–4 in parallel after kickoff. Agent 5 must begin only after Agents 1–4 have completed their files. End with a synthesis/review step that checks consistency, resolves contradictions, and produces a final executive-ready report. Business context: Harvey Norman is a major omnichannel retailer best known for furniture, bedding, electronics, appliances, computers, homewares, flooring, and connected services. It operates via a franchise-heavy model in Australia and has operations in New Zealand and other markets. This analysis should focus on practical competitive intelligence for Harvey Norman leadership: who it competes with, where it wins/loses, how its pricing and promotional tactics compare, how its product/category positioning differs, how customer experience compares, and what strategic actions are recommended. Primary geography: 1. Australia as the main market. 2. New Zealand as a secondary market where relevant. 3. Mention international operations only if they materially affect competitive positioning. Core competitors to evaluate where relevant: - JB Hi-Fi - The Good Guys - Officeworks - Amazon Australia - Kogan - Appliances Online - Bunnings - IKEA - Fantastic Furniture - Freedom - Nick Scali - Amart Furniture - Domayne - Bing Lee - Betta Home Living - Big W / Kmart / Target where relevant for homewares and electronics entry-level competition - Costco where relevant - Marketplaces and category specialists where relevant Use current publicly available information where possible. Cite sources with URLs and access dates. If live web access is unavailable, clearly label analysis as based on available model knowledge and recommend source checks. Do not invent exact prices, policies, or metrics. If a fact is uncertain, mark it as “Needs verification.” Required collaboration mechanics: - Create a shared assumptions file before research begins. - Each analyst must record key findings, confidence levels, source links, and “implications for Harvey Norman.” - Each analyst must add a short “Questions for other agents” section to their output. - Agents must challenge at least 3 assumptions or findings from another stream in a final cross-review note. - Agents must avoid duplicating work: competitor scope belongs to Competitor Mapping; price mechanics belong to Pricing; product/category depth belongs to Product; service and experience belongs to Customer Experience. - The Synthesis Strategist must explicitly reconcile overlaps and contradictions across files. Kickoff step — must complete before Agents 1–4 begin: Create: outputs/agent_teams_demo/harvey_norman_competitive_analysis/00_kickoff_scope_and_assumptions.md This file must be 600–900 words and contain exactly these sections: 1. Objective 2. Market Scope 3. Competitor Inclusion Criteria 4. Research Standards 5. Shared Definitions 6. Assumptions and Risks 7. Workstream Boundaries 8. Source and Citation Rules Include these shared definitions: - Direct competitor: sells overlapping categories to similar customers through comparable retail channels. - Indirect competitor: competes for the same customer budget, mission, or purchase occasion but may differ in channel, category focus, or proposition. - Price position: observed or inferred relative standing across comparable SKUs, not a claim that one retailer is always cheaper. - Customer experience: online discovery, checkout, delivery, returns, warranties, support, installation, store experience, and review sentiment. Agent 1: Competitor Mapping Analyst Task: Identify Harvey Norman’s direct and indirect competitors by market, category, geography, customer segment, channel model, and value proposition. Focus on who matters most and why. This task may run in parallel with Agents 2–4, but only after the kickoff file is complete. Create: outputs/agent_teams_demo/harvey_norman_competitive_analysis/01_competitor_mapping.md Deliverable length: 1,400–1,900 words. Use exactly these sections: 1. Executive Snapshot - 120–180 words summarizing the competitive landscape. 2. Competitor Universe - Classify competitors into direct, indirect, specialist, marketplace, and discount/value players. - Include Australia and relevant New Zealand competitors. 3. Category-by-Category Rival Map - Cover electronics/computers, appliances, furniture, bedding/mattresses, homewares, flooring, and services. - Identify top 3–5 rivals per category. 4. Customer Segment Rivalry - Compare competitors by customer segment: value seekers, premium shoppers, tech enthusiasts, homemakers, renovators, small business/home office, and credit/finance-driven buyers. 5. Channel and Business Model Comparison - Compare franchise/store-led, big-box, pureplay, marketplace, omnichannel, category specialist, and discount models. 6. Competitor Threat Ranking - Provide a table with columns: Competitor, Primary Categories, Threat Level High/Medium/Low, Why It Matters, Harvey Norman Exposure. 7. White Space and Blind Spots - Identify under-served segments or competitors that may be underestimated. 8. Questions for Other Agents - Provide 5–8 specific questions for Pricing, Product, CX, or Synthesis. 9. Source Notes - Include URLs, access dates, and confidence levels. Required analysis standards: - Do not over-focus on only electronics; Harvey Norman’s furniture, bedding, and home categories are strategically important. - Distinguish JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys relationship where relevant but analyze both separately. - Consider Amazon and Kogan as digital and marketplace threats even where physical store comparison is weaker. - Flag any competitor that is strong in only one category but strategically significant. Agent 2: Pricing and Promotion Analyst Task: Compare Harvey Norman pricing architecture, discounting, financing offers, bundles, seasonal campaigns, clearance tactics, price matching, and promotional messaging against major competitors. This task may run in parallel with Agents 1, 3, and 4, but only after the kickoff file is complete. Create: outputs/agent_teams_demo/harvey_norman_competitive_analysis/02_pricing_and_promotions.md Deliverable length: 1,400–1,900 words. Use exactly these sections: 1. Executive Snapshot - 120–180 words summarizing pricing competitiveness and promotional intensity. 2. Pricing Architecture Overview - Discuss premium, mid-market, value, financing-led, bundle-led, and clearance-led pricing positions. 3. Category Pricing Comparison - Compare pricing behavior in electronics, appliances, computers, furniture, bedding, and homewares. - Use examples only if sourceable. If exact SKUs cannot be verified, use directional observations and label them clearly. 4. Promotion and Campaign Mechanics - Compare sales events, catalogues, online deals, EOFY, Black Friday/Cyber Monday, Boxing Day, clearance, bundles, gift cards, installation inclusions, and limited-time offers. 5. Financing and Payment Offers - Compare interest-free offers, buy-now-pay-later, store credit, repayment periods, eligibility complexity, and strategic importance. 6. Price Match and Value Guarantees - Compare Harvey Norman policies and competitor policies where available. 7. Competitor Pricing Tactics Table - Include columns: Competitor, Pricing Position, Common Promo Tactics, Financing/BNPL, Price Match/Guarantee, Threat to Harvey Norman. 8. Implications for Harvey Norman - Provide 6–10 bullets on risks and opportunities. 9. Questions for Other Agents - Provide 5–8 specific questions for Competitor Mapping, Product, CX, or Synthesis. 10. Source Notes - Include URLs, access dates, and confidence levels. Required analysis standards: - Avoid claiming one retailer is universally cheaper unless there is reliable evidence. - Distinguish headline discounts from total cost including delivery, installation, warranty, finance fees, and returns. - Evaluate promotional psychology, not just discount size. - Include financing as a central part of Harvey Norman’s competitive proposition. Agent 3: Product and Category Analyst Task: Benchmark Harvey Norman’s category coverage, product range depth, brand mix, private labels, exclusives, stock availability, service attach opportunities, and category strengths/weaknesses against competitors. This task may run in parallel with Agents 1, 2, and 4, but only after the kickoff file is complete. Create: outputs/agent_teams_demo/harvey_norman_competitive_analysis/03_product_and_category.md Deliverable length: 1,400–1,900 words. Use exactly these sections: 1. Executive Snapshot - 120–180 words summarizing Harvey Norman’s product/category position. 2. Harvey Norman Category Portfolio - Cover electronics, computers, appliances, furniture, bedding/mattresses, homewares, flooring, and services. 3. Competitor Category Benchmarks - Compare major rivals by breadth, depth, specialization, and category credibility. 4. Brand Mix, Exclusives, and Private Labels - Identify known branded range strengths, exclusive arrangements, private-label exposure, and gaps where verifiable. 5. Availability and Range Discovery - Compare online assortment, stock visibility, store availability, marketplace range expansion, and omnichannel discovery. 6. Category Strength and Weakness Matrix - Include rows for key categories and columns: Harvey Norman Position, Strongest Competitors, HN Advantage, HN Vulnerability, Evidence/Confidence. 7. Cross-Sell and Attachment Opportunities - Analyze warranties, installation, accessories, furniture add-ons, smart home, delivery, credit, and services. 8. Implications for Harvey Norman - Provide 6–10 bullets on product/category actions. 9. Questions for Other Agents - Provide 5–8 specific questions for Competitor Mapping, Pricing, CX, or Synthesis. 10. Source Notes - Include URLs, access dates, and confidence levels. Required analysis standards: - Treat Harvey Norman as a multi-category retailer, not only electronics/appliances. - Compare category specialists fairly: IKEA in furniture, Appliances Online in appliances, JB Hi-Fi in electronics, Officeworks in office/computers, Bunnings in home improvement adjacent categories. - Identify where category breadth is an advantage and where specialist depth is a threat. - Separate “range breadth” from “category authority.” Agent 4: Customer Experience Analyst Task: Evaluate Harvey Norman’s online and offline customer experience against competitors, including website usability, store experience, delivery, returns, warranties, installation, support, reviews, service quality, trust, and friction points. This task may run in parallel with Agents 1–3, but only after the kickoff file is complete. Create: outputs/agent_teams_demo/harvey_norman_competitive_analysis/04_customer_experience.md Deliverable length: 1,400–1,900 words. Use exactly these sections: 1. Executive Snapshot - 120–180 words summarizing customer experience competitiveness. 2. Online Shopping Journey - Compare navigation, search, product pages, stock visibility, checkout, account features, mobile experience, and marketplace-style assortment if relevant. 3. Store Experience and Sales Model - Compare in-store advice, store format, franchise/service variability, sales assistance, demonstrations, and local inventory. 4. Delivery, Fulfilment, and Installation - Compare delivery speed, cost transparency, bulky item fulfilment, click-and-collect, installation, haul-away, and scheduling. 5. Returns, Warranties, and Post-Purchase Support - Compare policies and perceived friction. Include extended warranties and consumer law considerations where relevant. 6. Review and Sentiment Themes - Summarize recurring themes from review platforms, app/site reviews, social media, or public complaints where sourceable. Do not overstate anecdotal evidence. 7. CX Competitor Scorecard - Provide a table with columns: Competitor, Online UX, Store Experience, Delivery/Fulfilment, Returns/Support, Overall CX Threat, Evidence/Confidence. - Use a 1–5 score and briefly justify each score. 8. Implications for Harvey Norman - Provide 6–10 bullets on CX risks and improvements. 9. Questions for Other Agents - Provide 5–8 specific questions for Competitor Mapping, Pricing, Product, or Synthesis. 10. Source Notes - Include URLs, access dates, and confidence levels. Required analysis standards: - Distinguish policy from customer perception. - Treat franchise/store variability as a possible strength and weakness. - Consider bulky goods delivery as a major differentiator in furniture, bedding, and appliances. - Avoid using isolated negative reviews as proof of systemic issues; describe them as themes only when repeated. Cross-review step — must complete after Agents 1–4 finish and before Agent 5 begins: Create: outputs/agent_teams_demo/harvey_norman_competitive_analysis/05_cross_review_challenges.md Deliverable length: 700–1,000 words. Instructions: - Each of Agents 1–4 must contribute at least 3 challenges, corrections, or clarifying questions to findings from another agent’s file. - Organize by agent. - Use exactly these sections: 1. Purpose of Cross-Review 2. Competitor Mapping Challenges 3. Pricing and Promotion Challenges 4. Product and Category Challenges 5. Customer Experience Challenges 6. Issues Requiring Synthesis Resolution Each challenge must include: - Referenced finding - Concern or alternative interpretation - Recommended resolution - Confidence level: High/Medium/Low Agent 5: Synthesis Strategist Task: Combine all research streams into an executive-ready competitive analysis for Harvey Norman. Produce a concise but substantive final report with SWOT, competitor matrix, key insights, strategic recommendations, and an implementation-oriented action plan. This task must begin only after these files are complete: - outputs/agent_teams_demo/harvey_norman_competitive_analysis/01_competitor_mapping.md - outputs/agent_teams_demo/harvey_norman_competitive_analysis/02_pricing_and_promotions.md - outputs/agent_teams_demo/harvey_norman_competitive_analysis/03_product_and_category.md - outputs/agent_teams_demo/harvey_norman_competitive_analysis/04_customer_experience.md - outputs/agent_teams_demo/harvey_norman_competitive_analysis/05_cross_review_challenges.md Create: outputs/agent_teams_demo/harvey_norman_competitive_analysis/06_synthesis_strategy_report.md Deliverable length: 2,200–3,000 words. Use exactly these sections: 1. Executive Summary - 250–350 words. - State Harvey Norman’s current competitive position, top 5 threats, and top 5 opportunities. 2. Competitive Landscape Overview - Summarize the main competitor groups and how they pressure Harvey Norman. 3. Competitor Matrix - Include a table with columns: Competitor, Core Strength, Main Categories, Price Position, Product/Range Position, CX Position, Threat Level, Strategic Implication for Harvey Norman. - Include at least 12 competitors. 4. Harvey Norman SWOT - Include 6–8 bullets each for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. - Each bullet must be specific and tied to evidence from Agents 1–4. 5. Key Findings by Workstream - Summarize competitor mapping, pricing/promotions, product/category, and customer experience in separate subsections. 6. Strategic Recommendations - Provide 8–12 recommendations. - For each recommendation include: Rationale, Target Category/Segment, Expected Impact, Difficulty, Time Horizon, Owner Function. 7. Priority Action Roadmap - Divide into 0–90 days, 3–12 months, and 12–24 months. - Include at least 5 actions per time horizon. 8. Risks, Trade-Offs, and Watchouts - Include 8–12 bullets. 9. Metrics to Track - Include at least 15 metrics across price competitiveness, conversion, delivery, returns, NPS/reviews, attachment rates, finance usage, category share, and promo ROI. 10. Source and Confidence Summary - Summarize source quality, gaps, and items needing verification. Synthesis requirements: - Reconcile contradictions from 05_cross_review_challenges.md. - Do not simply paste agent outputs. Integrate them into a unified strategic argument. - Distinguish immediate tactical moves from longer-term strategic positioning. - Make recommendations practical for a retailer with stores, franchises, online channels, supplier relationships, service attachments, and financing offers. - Include both defensive moves against strong competitors and offensive growth opportunities. - Avoid generic recommendations such as “improve customer experience” unless tied to a specific lever. Final review step — must complete after the synthesis report: Create: outputs/agent_teams_demo/harvey_norman_competitive_analysis/07_final_quality_review.md Deliverable length: 700–1,000 words. Use exactly these sections: 1. Completeness Check - Confirm all required files exist and all required sections are present. 2. Evidence and Citation Check - Identify unsupported claims, weak sources, and “Needs verification” items. 3. Consistency Check - Confirm competitor names, category definitions, scores, and threat levels are consistent across outputs. 4. Strategic Usefulness Check - Evaluate whether recommendations are specific, prioritized, and actionable. 5. Bias and Assumption Check - Identify possible over-weighting of electronics, over-reliance on anecdotal reviews, outdated data, or unverified pricing claims. 6. Required Fixes Applied - List any fixes made during review. 7. Remaining Limitations - List residual gaps that Harvey Norman should validate with internal data or paid market research. Formatting and quality rules for all files: - Use clear Markdown headings. - Use tables where requested. - Include citations as inline source links or source notes with URLs and access dates. - Use Australian English spelling. - Use concise, executive-friendly language. - Label confidence levels as High, Medium, or Low. - Mark uncertain claims as “Needs verification.” - Do not fabricate statistics, exact prices, financial performance, review ratings, or policy details. - If using estimates or directional judgments, say so explicitly. - Keep all content focused on Harvey Norman competitive analysis; do not include generic retail theory unless directly useful. - End each agent file with “Implications for Harvey Norman” or equivalent where specified. Execution order: 1. Create 00_kickoff_scope_and_assumptions.md. 2. Run Agents 1–4 in parallel and create files 01–04. 3. Create 05_cross_review_challenges.md using completed files 01–04. 4. Run Agent 5 and create 06_synthesis_strategy_report.md. 5. Complete 07_final_quality_review.md. 6. Ensure every file is saved under outputs/agent_teams_demo/harvey_norman_competitive_analysis/ and no deliverable is omitted.
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