The most powerful of the five competitive forces is usually: Select one: a. The competitive pressures that stem from ready availability b. The competitive pressures associated with rivalry among competing sellers in the industry for buyer patronage c. The competitive pressures associated with the potential entry of new competitors d. The bargaining power and leverage that large customers are able to exercise

b. The competitive pressures associated with rivalry among competing sellers in the industry for buyer patronage.

Explanation:

The Porter’s five forces of competition is a framework developed by Michael E. Porter in 1979, it is used to measure and analyze an organization's competitiveness in a business environment.

The Porter's five forces of competition framework are:

1. The bargaining power of suppliers.

2. The bargaining power of customers.

3. Threat posed by substitute products.

4. Threats posed by new entrants.

5. Threats posed by existing rivals in the industry.

The most powerful of the five competitive forces is usually the competitive pressures associated with rivalry among competing sellers in the industry for buyer patronage. When the amount of competitors (sellers), as well as the quantity of goods and services they provide are large, the lesser their competitive strengths or advantage in the market because the customers have a large pool of finished goods and services to choose from and vice-versa.